AFP: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and Ali Larijani, adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, on Friday discussed developments in Lebanon, the official SANA news agency reported. DAMASCUS (AFP) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and Ali Larijani, adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, on Friday discussed developments in Lebanon, the official SANA news agency reported.
Larijani expressed “Iran’s support for Syrian efforts to reach a compromise” in Lebanon that would allow the election of a new president there, the agency said.
“The key to a solution in Lebanon lies in the hands of Lebanese parties,” added the adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Lebanon has been without a president since the mandate of pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud expired on November 23 amid sharp divisions between the ruling majority and the opposition, which is backed by Syria and Iran.
On December 28, a parliamentary session called to elect a president was postponed until January 12 — the 11th postponement of a vote since September.
Earlier on Friday, Lebanon’s ruling coalition urged the Arab League to protect the country from what it said were Syrian attempts to block the long-overdue election.
“We call on the Arab League to protect independent Lebanon from destruction by the Syrian regime, and its terrorism aimed at shaking Lebanon’s stability,” the statement said ahead of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on Sunday.
Damascus has denied accusations that it was behind the killing in 2005 of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri and also of other anti-Syrian figures in Lebanon since then.
