France: Iran must not interfere in Lebanon
Hariri’s remarks show political deal still stands, Aoun says
France’s foreign ministry said yesterday it was an important condition for the stability of the region that Iran not interfere in Lebanon’s domestic affairs.
“Mr Sa’ad Hariri called on Iran to not interfere in the affairs of Lebanon and its neighbours. We believe that this is an important condition for the stability of the region,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne said.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said yesterday that Hariri was “leaving all doors open including rescinding his resignation”, according to some sources. Aoun said Hariri’s remarks also showed that the political deal underpinning Lebanon’s coalition government still stands.
Meanwhile, the head of Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic community Cardinal Bishara Al Rai arrived in Saudi Arabia last night. He is expected to meet with Hariri, as well as Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
The Syrian regime’s sieges of its population ahead of reaching “reconciliation” agreements with the opposition amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes, Amnesty International said yesterday.
In a report titled “We leave or we die”, Amnesty analysed four local accords which it said were preceded by unlawful sieges and bombardment aimed at forcing civilians to leave their homes.
“The sieges, unlawful killings and forced displacement by government forces are part of a systematic as well as widespread attack on the civilian population, therefore constituting crimes against humanity,” the report said.
The human rights organisation said it conducted the research using videos and satellite imagery alongside interviews with 134 people, including residents and UN officials, between April and September this year. It said the Syrian government and, to a lesser degree, armed opposition groups have enforced sieges on densely populated areas, depriving civilians of food, medicine and other basic necessities in violation of international humanitarian law.