Obama Committed to a Lebanon Free of 'Terrorism'
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President Barack Obama, in a markedly personal statement, said Monday he was committed to keeping Lebanon free of "terrorism" as tensions and fears of violence rose sharply in Beirut. Obama marked Lebanon's Independence Day by firmly backing a special tribunal into the murder of former premier Rafiq Hariri, amid media reports the probe will directly link the militant Hezbollah group to the 2005 killing. "I am committed to doing everything I can to support Lebanon and ensure it remains free from foreign interference, terrorism, and war," Obama said in the written statement. "Lebanon deserves peace and prosperity, and those who believe otherwise are no friend to Lebanon," Obama said in the message to all citizens of Lebanon, using more personal language than is often the case in such statements. "I hope you will carry this message to your friends and family. Lebanon has fought enough fights. "The only way ahead is for all Lebanese to work together, not against each other, for a sovereign and independent Lebanon that enjoys both justice and stability." Obama said the United States was grateful to the Lebanese government for its "steadfast leadership" in difficult circumstances. "We continue to support the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which will end the era of political assassinations with impunity in Lebanon," he said. "Lebanon and its children need a future where they can fulfill their dreams free of fear and intimidation." Tensions are rising in Lebanon amid reports that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is set to issue an indictment soon that will implicate high-ranking members of the Shiite Hezbollah group in Hariri's murder. Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has denied involvement in the killing. The group's leader, Hasan Nasrallah, warned last week that Hezbollah would "cut off the hand" of anyone who tried to arrest its members over the probe. But the current prime minister, Saad Hariri, the son of Rafiq Hariri, has vowed to see the investigation through. Canadian CBC broadcaster said Monday it had evidence from the UN inquiry strongly linking Hezbollah to the massive car bomb which killed Hariri and 22 others in February 2005. The United Nations, meanwhile, expressed concern that leaks of the special tribunal on Lebanon's inquiries could influence its work on the bomb blast. As well as CBC, other media organizations have said the Netherlands-based UN tribunal is close to announcing indictments against Hezbollah members for the killing. Earlier on Monday, Qatar's premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani flew to Beirut on a surprise visit in a bid to contain rising tensions in Lebanon. Analysts warn the growing tension could lead to a repeat of the crisis of May 2008, when an 18-month political deadlock culminated in a week of deadly gunfights between Hariri supporters and those of Hezbollah. Qatar played a key role in ending the 2008 crisis, brokering a deal for the formation of a national unity government in which Hezbollah and its allies were granted veto powers over major decisions.