LEBANON: UNITED NATIONS MIDDLE EAST ENVOY TERJE ROED-LARSEN CONDEMNS LATEST TENSION BETWEEN SYRIA AND ISRAEL

Record ID: 338086

  • Title: LEBANON: UNITED NATIONS MIDDLE EAST ENVOY TERJE ROED-LARSEN CONDEMNS LATEST TENSION BETWEEN SYRIA AND ISRAEL
  • Date: 9th October 2003
  • Summary: (U4) BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 8, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. MV U.N. ENVOY TERJE ROED LARSEN, MEETING WITH LEBANESE PRESIDENT EMILE LAHOUD; MV LARSEN HEADING TO PRESS BRIEFING ROOM 0.20 3. MV LARSEN SEATED IN MEETING WITH LEBANESE PRESIDENT EMILE LAHOUD (6 SHOTS) 1.20 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA65TWB9NU0ZYDYDVNHA88B8WGS
  • Story Text: U.N middle east envoy Terje Roed-Larsen condemns
    latest tension between Syria and Israel.

    U.N. Middle East envoy Terje Roed Larsen has met
    with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud over border tensions
    with Israel.

    Speaking at a press conference afterwards Mr.Larsen
    urged both sides to remain calm.

    "We are particularly concerned that this attack has
    potential to broaden the scope of the current conflicts in
    the Middle East and threaten peace and security throughout
    the region. We also condemn Monday's attacks against Israel
    emanating from Lebanese territory that killed one Israeli
    soldier," he said.

    Today, I seriously advise that parties not to travel
    down that road. Instead, all the parties should respect the
    security council resolution". Mr.Larsen added.

    Washington has accused Syria of being a state sponsor
    of terrorism, and members of Bush's Republican party in
    Congress are working on a bill that would impose sanctions
    on Damascus if it did not meet certain conditions.

    Critics in Washington list a series of complaints, such
    as Syria's military presence in Lebanon, its suspected
    support for extremist groups and weapons proliferation.

    Syria denies links to "terrorist groups" but says it
    backs legitimate resistance to Israeli occupation. It says
    Palestinian militant groups only have media offices on its
    territory.

    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused Israel on
    Tuesday of trying to drag Syria and the rest of the Middle
    East into wider conflict, telling the London-based al-Hayat
    newspaper: "This (Israeli) government is one of war and war
    is the justification for its existence."

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