Lankan Ranger
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Turkey agrees to join Lebanon contact group
Turkey has agreed to take part in an international contact group proposed by France to help Lebanon overcome its political crisis, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
I received an invitation from (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy yesterday and I asked my office to reply favorably, Erdogan told journalists in Istanbul prior to his departure for Damascus for talks on the Lebanon crisis.
In Damascus Erdogan was to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. He said no date had yet been proposed for a meeting of the group. Sarkozy's office said in a statement Sunday a meeting would be held as soon as possible.
Sarkozy has been discussing the crisis with key figures recently including Hariri, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, the presidents of Syria and Turkey, the emir of Qatar and US President Barack Obama, the French president's office said.
Talks to name PM postponed
Meanwhile Lebanon has postponed talks on the appointment of a new premier until next Monday, amid deep divisions among the country's political parties.
According to Press TV, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman was scheduled to open two days of meetings with parliamentary groups to name a new prime minister on Monday.
After assessing the positions of various parties in Lebanon ... President Michel Sleiman has decided to postpone parliamentary consultations until Monday, January 24 and Tuesday, January 25, 2011, read a statement released by the president's office. A U.S.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is set to submit indictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
The charge sheet will not be made public until pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen has reviewed and approved it.
Unconfirmed reports say the court will most likely issue an indictment against some Hezbollah members.
Hezbollah, however, rebuffed the allegations, describing the court as a part of dangerous projects against the resistance movement.
US ambassador summoned
In another development, Lebanon's Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador Monday over concerns that she is interfering with internal politics, AP reported.
The controversy stems from a meeting this weekend between U.S. envoy Maura Connelly and lawmaker Nicolas Fattouch, who is seen as a key undecided lawmaker as Lebanon's political factions scramble to form a new government.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Shami considers these kinds of contacts as interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, the ministry said in a statement. After Monday's meeting with Shami, Connelly's office denied any interference.
She explained to the foreign minister that the United States embassy has regular contact with personalities from across Lebanon's political spectrum as part of its diplomatic mission, an embassy spokesman said.
According to Lebanon's power-sharing system, the president must be a Christian Maronite, the prime minister a Sunni and the parliament speaker a Shiite. Each faith makes up about a third of Lebanon's population of 4 million.
tehran times : Turkey agrees to join Lebanon contact group
Turkey has agreed to take part in an international contact group proposed by France to help Lebanon overcome its political crisis, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
I received an invitation from (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy yesterday and I asked my office to reply favorably, Erdogan told journalists in Istanbul prior to his departure for Damascus for talks on the Lebanon crisis.
In Damascus Erdogan was to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. He said no date had yet been proposed for a meeting of the group. Sarkozy's office said in a statement Sunday a meeting would be held as soon as possible.
Sarkozy has been discussing the crisis with key figures recently including Hariri, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, the presidents of Syria and Turkey, the emir of Qatar and US President Barack Obama, the French president's office said.
Talks to name PM postponed
Meanwhile Lebanon has postponed talks on the appointment of a new premier until next Monday, amid deep divisions among the country's political parties.
According to Press TV, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman was scheduled to open two days of meetings with parliamentary groups to name a new prime minister on Monday.
After assessing the positions of various parties in Lebanon ... President Michel Sleiman has decided to postpone parliamentary consultations until Monday, January 24 and Tuesday, January 25, 2011, read a statement released by the president's office. A U.S.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is set to submit indictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
The charge sheet will not be made public until pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen has reviewed and approved it.
Unconfirmed reports say the court will most likely issue an indictment against some Hezbollah members.
Hezbollah, however, rebuffed the allegations, describing the court as a part of dangerous projects against the resistance movement.
US ambassador summoned
In another development, Lebanon's Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador Monday over concerns that she is interfering with internal politics, AP reported.
The controversy stems from a meeting this weekend between U.S. envoy Maura Connelly and lawmaker Nicolas Fattouch, who is seen as a key undecided lawmaker as Lebanon's political factions scramble to form a new government.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Shami considers these kinds of contacts as interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, the ministry said in a statement. After Monday's meeting with Shami, Connelly's office denied any interference.
She explained to the foreign minister that the United States embassy has regular contact with personalities from across Lebanon's political spectrum as part of its diplomatic mission, an embassy spokesman said.
According to Lebanon's power-sharing system, the president must be a Christian Maronite, the prime minister a Sunni and the parliament speaker a Shiite. Each faith makes up about a third of Lebanon's population of 4 million.
tehran times : Turkey agrees to join Lebanon contact group
