BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has rejected an Arab offer to hold a summit to discuss controversial Lebanese-Syrian relations.
Speaking in an interview with Beirut's daily Al-Balad Wednesday, Lahoud said he rejected the offer made by Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa, who visited Lebanon last week following the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
"I informed Amr Mousa that Lebanon and Syria are fully in agreement over their relations, which are defined by the Taif agreement and the treaty of friendship signed between them," Lahoud said.
The 1989 Taif agreement silenced the guns of the 1975-1990 civil strife and stipulated a gradual Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.
Lebanon's multi-sectarian opposition has been pressing for Syria's withdrawal and an end to its political hegemony in Lebanon. It has also held Lahoud's regime and Syria responsible for Hariri's slaying.
Lahoud stressed that the withdrawal of Syria's estimated 15,000 troops from Lebanon "should take place according to the Taif agreement and in light of the two countries' joint national, security and military interests."
The top official also rejected opposition calls for the dismissal of the government, charging, "They want to bring down the parliament and I tell them, try to do that through parliament."
