U.S. wants Lebanon poll monitored

Published: March. 24, 2005 at 10:06 AM

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield Thursday called for free and honest Lebanese elections with international monitors.

After a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Beirut, Satterfield denounced recent bombings that rocked Lebanon's Christian areas and renewed the call for Syrian forces to withdraw completely from the country.

"We push for a political environment free of threats, free of violence and free of intimidation in order to have free and fair elections as rapidly as possible in an environment free of outside interference," Satterfield said.

"That means the complete withdrawal now of all Syrian forces from Lebanon and elections should move forward in the presence of international observers and in the scheduled time ... That should be a priority."

Satterfield arrived in Beirut Wednesday night and will stay three weeks while U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman is in Washington.

Topics: David Satterfield, Jeffrey Feltman, Nasrallah Sfeir

© 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints

Most Popular Collections

'Star Trek Into Darkness' screening	NBC upfronts	Met Ball 2013
'Great Gatsby' premieres in New York	Spire raised on top of One WTC	2013: Celebrity break ups and divorces

Additional Top News Stories
Top News Utah church shooting victim identified OGDEN, Utah, June 17 (UPI) -- Police have identified the victim of Sunday's shooting in a Roman Catholic church in Utah as James Evans; his son-in-law was charged with the crime. Colorado's Black forest fire considered a crime scene as two die FBI searches rural property for James Hoffa's remains 7 dead, 41 wounded in Chicago's most violent weekend this year Trans-Atlantic trade talks top G8 agenda	Entertainment News Kim and Kanye's premature baby needs 'focus' from her parents, Dr. Oz says The TV doctor compared his own child's experience to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's newborn. Lolo Jones posts bobsled paycheck on Twitter, explains her complaint [VIDEO] 'Breaking Amish' heads to Los Angeles Kim Kardashian gets congratulations from Beyonce Selma Blair fired by Charlie Sheen?
Business News Persian Gulf states 'unable to protect themselves' DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 17 (UPI) -- Despite massive spending on Western weapons, the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf are "unable to secure themselves from any external threat" -- meaning Iran – and are running up huge public and foreign debt, a gulf think tank says. Climate group warns against burning of fossil fuel reserves Report says 70 percent of U.S. workers are disengaged U.S. mulls countermeasures against threat of enemy UAVs Boeing orders more AESA radars from Raytheon	Odd News Bear mauls man who fed it barbecue meat A black bear mauled a man in Alaska after he provoked the animal by throwing it two pieces of barbecued meat. TSA agent allegedly tells teen to 'cover herself' Boy in his wheelchair isolated in viral class photo 'Feminist Taylor Swift' parody takes off on Twitter Florida man rides whale shark

Top News

U.S. wants Lebanon poll monitored