BEIRUT (AFP)
Lebanese parliament speaker and opposition leader Nabih Berri accused the United States on Tuesday of torpedoing efforts to resolve the country's political crisis.
"They who don't support the Arab initiative and who have blocked more than one plan to solve the Lebanese crisis, cannot make us believe that they want the election of a president more than us," Berri said in a statement.
His comments came in response to White House remarks on Monday calling Berri's decision to postpone the presidential vote for a 16th time "unacceptable" and denouncing foreign intervention, especially Syrian, in the country.
The delay came amid continued wrangling between the Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.
Lebanon has been without a president since November 24, when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term.
The Arab League has made many attempts to break the impasse and secure an immediate vote.
There has been increased pressure to secure the presidential vote before an Arab summit scheduled for March 29-30 in Damascus.
The crisis, the worst since the end of the country's 1975-1990 civil war, has at times spilled over into the streets, raising fears of a full-blown conflict. |
