U.N. chief holds talks in Lebanon
- 12 years ago
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon meets Lebanese trade minister Nicolas Nahhas in Beirut.
The secretary general is in Lebanon for talks on a number of sensitive issues - including attacks on UN peacekeepers in the south and the revolt in neighbouring Syria.
Also on the agenda: the UN-backed tribunal that indicted Hezbollah men over the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.
Unsurprisingly, his arrival has not been welcomed in all quarters - with Palestinian, pro-Syrian and Lebanese activists, including Hezbollah officials, gathering to protest.
This pro-Syrian general, Mustafa Hamdan, accuses the UN chief of arriving to campaign against Syria.
He says Ban has come to the wrong place at the wrong time.
Meanwhile Hezbollah officials, who are refusing UN calls to disarm and have denied involvement in the Hariri killing, called on Ban to be independent.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEZBOLLAH OFFICIAL MAHMOUD QOUMATI, SAYING:
"We came to emphasize to the Secretary General that our people call on him to be independent and free from U.S. pressure and control."
The UN chief will decide soon whether to extend the UN-backed tribunal's mandate over the Hariri killing, which expires in March.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
The secretary general is in Lebanon for talks on a number of sensitive issues - including attacks on UN peacekeepers in the south and the revolt in neighbouring Syria.
Also on the agenda: the UN-backed tribunal that indicted Hezbollah men over the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.
Unsurprisingly, his arrival has not been welcomed in all quarters - with Palestinian, pro-Syrian and Lebanese activists, including Hezbollah officials, gathering to protest.
This pro-Syrian general, Mustafa Hamdan, accuses the UN chief of arriving to campaign against Syria.
He says Ban has come to the wrong place at the wrong time.
Meanwhile Hezbollah officials, who are refusing UN calls to disarm and have denied involvement in the Hariri killing, called on Ban to be independent.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEZBOLLAH OFFICIAL MAHMOUD QOUMATI, SAYING:
"We came to emphasize to the Secretary General that our people call on him to be independent and free from U.S. pressure and control."
The UN chief will decide soon whether to extend the UN-backed tribunal's mandate over the Hariri killing, which expires in March.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters