UAE stresses no nationality, religion targeted

The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, said his country had the right to act against foreigners "violating the law," in reference to expelled Lebanese Shiites, the state WAM news agency said on Tuesday.

In a meeting with Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri, the UAE president reiterated the commitment of the Emirates to supporting Lebanon, WAM reported.

"This is the UAE's permanent policy," Sheikh Khalifa said.

"The UAE was exercising its sovereign right in taking decisions it saw as necessary and, in so doing, the country does not target any nationality, religious sect or faction," he told Berri.

"Whatever measures the country took was limited to only those violating the laws of the state," Sheikh Khalifa said.

Recently there have been reports of the UAE expelling Lebanese Shiites and several Palestinians for alleged affiliations to militant groups.

The UAE was exercising its sovereign right in taking decisions it saw as necessary and, in so doing, the country does not target any nationality, religious sect or faction

UAE president