Suleiman to Kerry: Avoid Syria Strike

Local Editor

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman announced Wednesday his rejection to any US-led military intervention in Syria.

In a phone conversation with the US Secretary of State John Kerry, Suleiman expressed his support to the Russian proposal to put Syria's chemical weapons under international control in order to avert a military strike.
Lebanon supported "building on the Russian offer to resolve the situation in Syria."

Kerry telephoned Suleiman to discuss the crisis in Syria as well as US-Lebanon ties and the role that Washington could play to make an upcoming international conference on Lebanon a success.
The two men discussed developments in the region, particularly "the crisis resulting from the use of the chemical weapons [in Syria] and Washington's positions and diplomatic efforts in this regard," a statement from the presidential palace said.

Suleiman further reiterated his condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and stressed the need to hold those responsible for the alleged gas attack in a Damascus suburb accountable through the United Nations Security Council, but emphasized the need to avoid foreign intervention.

The President also highlighted the importance of finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria, according to the Baabda Palace statement. He underlined the need to protect civilians during armed conflicts regardless of what sect they belong to.

The statement said Suleiman also stressed the significance of the weight Washington can bring to make a meeting of the International Group to Support Lebanon a success.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website