Bush: Syria trying to reassert influence in Lebanon
US President George Bush said tonight he suspected Syria was trying to reassert influence in Lebanon more than a year after Damascus ended a long-term military occupation of its smaller, weaker neighbour.
“It’s in our interest for Syria to stay out of Lebanon and for this government to survive,” Bush said in a reference to the Lebanese government.
“It’s very important for this government in Lebanon to succeed and survive.”
Bush spoke after briefing members of Congress about his recent trip to Russia for the G8 summit overshadowed by warfare between the Islamic militant group Hezbollah and Israel.
He placed the blame for the current violence squarely with Hezbollah.
“The root cause of the problem is Hezbollah and that problem needs to addressed,” Bush said.
He said there were suspicions that the instability caused by the Hezbollah attacks would cause some in Lebanon to invite Syria back into the nation.
“Syria’s trying to get back into Lebanon, it looks like seems to me,” Bush said.
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