Suleiman: Syria Helped Lebanon Greatly against Fatah al-Islam

Source: Al-Manar TV, 14-11-2008
While the campaign against Lebanese Interior Minister Ziad Baroud was still ongoing one day ahead of discussing its outcomes during a cabinet meeting, the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman "broke his silence" on Friday.
Speaking to pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat at the sidelines of UN Interfaith conference in New York, Suleiman commented for the first time on the confessions aired by Syrian State Television one week ago and the assaults against Damascus that followed it.
However, the Lebanese President sought through his answer to put an end for the "provocations," praising at the same time Syria and the Future movement.
In his comment, Suleiman stressed that Syria helped Lebanon greatly by providing information and ensuring fuel aircraft and ammunitions. According to Suleiman, Syria also used its influence with Palestinian factions loyal to Damascus to pacify them during the Nahr al-Bared army confrontation with Fatah al-Islam terrorists last year.
He also said that the Future Movement supported the army 100% during the Nahr al-Bared war with the Fatah al-Islam group in summer 2007.
Meanwhile, Minister Baroud said reports about concluding an agreement on forming a Lebanese-Syrian security committee during his recent visit to Damascus are not accurate.
Baroud told Lebanese daily As-Safir he would reply during the cabinet's forthcoming session on Saturday to all charges regarding outcome of his talks in Syria.
"I would ask all the ministers to ask me about any clarifications concerning my visit to Damascus and I would clearly answer all their questions," he said. "I have nothing to hide and I haven't concluded any deals under the table," Baroud stressed.