US envoy warns Syria, Hezbollah

Published February 28, 2005

BEIRUT, Feb 27: A top US envoy called on Sunday for Hezbollah to halt acts of "terror" against Israel and reiterated demands for an immediate Syrian troop pullout from Lebanon.

Washington's number two Middle East point man, David Satter field, held talks with opposition figures who have accused the pro-Syrian regime and Damascus of the February 14 killing of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

Satter field called for a "credible investigation" into Hariri's killing and for "concrete steps towards the immediate implementation" of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 which demands an end to a foreign military presence in Lebanon.

The US deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs is due to hold talks with Lebanese officials on Monday, when the Lebanese opposition is preparing for a showdown in parliament with the pro-Damascus regime over Syria and the Hariri assassination.

Both Israeli and Palestinian security officials have hinted at the possible involvement of the Syrian-backed Hezbollah in a Tel Aviv bomb attack that cast a shadow over the Middle East peace process.

Hezbollah denied involvement in the attack Friday that killed four Israelis. But Satter field warned that "Hezbollah's active engagement in acts of violence and terror directed against Israelis, from Gaza, from the West Bank, and within Israel, are destabilizing to the region, destabilizing to Lebanon."

"They need to stop and to stop immediately," he said. Asked about Syria's announcement of an imminent pullout, Satterfield told the Hariri-owned Future TV: "We have seen nothing happen on the ground." He stressed the need for an immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces and intelligence personnel from Lebanon. -AFP