Gordon Renews to Saniora Britain’s Backing
Prime Minister Gordon Brown met his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Saniora Tuesday, renewing Britain’s backing to his government amid the country’s worst political crisis since end of the civil war in 1990.
“I welcomed the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Saniora today,” Brown said in a statement after the pair met at his Downing Street offices in central London.
“His government has our strong support as it works to restore and strengthen the integrity of Lebanon’s institutions, and to protect Lebanon’s future as a tolerant and diverse democracy.”
The Lebanese leader is on a low-key visit to Britain amid an ongoing crisis back home prompted by the political vacuum left by end of former president Emile Lahoud’s term in November and lack of agreement on a successor.
Saniora’s Western-backed government has assumed the responsibilities of the president in the meantime but street clashes with the Shiite-led opposition have raised tensions, particularly in the capital, Beirut.
Britain’s Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to Lebanon.
Brown said Britain would “continue to back the efforts of the Arab League to resolve Lebanon’s political impasse, to work closely with European and other international partners, and to continue our strong bilateral support.”(AFP)
