Lebanon complains to UN about Syrian violations
Michel Suleiman lists intrusions on his country’s territory by the army of Bashar Assad and the rebels trying to topple him
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday registered a complaint with the UN over violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty committed by both sides in the Syrian civil war.
Suleiman summoned UN Special Coordinator Derek Plumbly to his office and handed him a memo listing a series of infringements, requesting that Plumbly send it to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Lebanese newspaper the Daily Star reported.
Syrian fighting has spilled onto Lebanon several times since fighting began in March 2011, including last week when a Syrian government helicopter fired at least two missiles at the border town of Arsal in Lebanon, officials and residents said.
The town is predominantly Sunni Muslim, and support for the Syrian rebels runs high. Scores of rebels and civilians who fled from Qusair have taken refuge there. Suleiman said the rockets were a “violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
In April, newly-installed Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam pledged to work at preventing the fighting in neighboring Syria from spilling over into Lebanese territory.
Suleiman asked Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour to file an official complaint with both the UN and the Arab League over Syrian violations, in March. On Monday, Mansour told the Daily Star that he was still considering the president’s request.
The Syrian war in Syria has claimed more than 93,000 lives since its outbreak in March 2011. Lebanon’s two largest political blocs are split between support for the regime of Syrian president Bashar Assad and the rebel forces trying to bring him down.
A statement issued by the Syrian military said Syria “respects Lebanese sovereignty,” adding that the Arsal attack took place when a Syrian army helicopter was chasing armed groups, some of whom fled to Lebanese territory.
AP contributed to this report.
