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Bush freezes assets of those in Opposition to Siniora's pro-Western government |
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Friday, 03 August 2007 |
President George W. Bush ordered on Thursday a freeze on the U.S. assets of
anyone Washington deems to be undermining Lebanon's pro-Western government.
The Bush administration did not identify those targeted by the decree, but it
comes just a month after he imposed a U.S. travel ban on Syrian officials and
Lebanese politicians whom the United States accuses of fomenting instability in
Lebanon.
The State Department said that Iranian interests could also be affected by
Bush's latest order.
The move follows repeated U.S. calls for Damascus to stop meddling in Lebanon,
where Washington is trying to shore up the embattled government of Prime
Minister Fouad Siniora.
Bush's executive order targets anyone considered to be fueling violence in
Lebanon or contributing to what it called "Syrian interference" in the country.
"The president signed this executive order because Lebanon's sovereignty and
democratic institutions are increasingly under attack," said Gordon Johndroe,
spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
Bush has sought to isolate Syria and Iran diplomatically, accusing both
countries of sponsoring terrorism, inciting trouble in Iraq and backing Hamas
and Hezbollah militants opposed to Israel.
Damascus, which withdrew its forces from Lebanon in 2005 after a 29-year
military presence, has denied the accusations, and Tehran has also rejected U.S.
charges.
Bush's order said the Treasury secretary, in consultation with the secretary of
state, would designate those whose U.S. property and business interests would be
frozen.
"Certainly Iran and Syria are the principle sponsors, I would say, of both
efforts to undermine the government in Lebanon and efforts to promote militia
violence ... and the other things we've talked about in Iraq," State Department
spokesman Tom Casey told reporters.
"So to the extent that those countries are engaged in supporting those kinds of
negative activities, then, yes, it's very much directed against them and their
unhelpful efforts."
Lebanon has been shaken by a power struggle between the government and
Hezbollah-led opponents, recent fighting between security forces and militants
in Palestinian refugee camps and the car bomb assassination of lawmaker Walid
Eido in June.
The United States strongly backed a May U.N. Security Council resolution setting
up an international tribunal under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, to try suspects
in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, thereby
paving the way for increased foreign involvement in the internal affairs of
Lebanon.
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