Abbas reaffirms neutrality in Hezbollah-Lebanon conflict

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 6 (UPI) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrapped up a three-day visit to neighboring Lebanon where he affirmed his neutrality in the Syrian conflict.

Abbas met with Lebanese officials including President Michel Suleiman and said Palestinians have no role in Lebanon's internal conflict. Hezbollah, which has a stronghold in portions of the country, has taken up arms to defend embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad in that country's civil war, now in its third year.

Abbas told officials Palestinians under his government's control are officially neutral in the dispute, The (Beirut) Daily Star said Saturday.