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Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt (AP)
Last update - 17:36 03/05/2008
Lebanese Druze leader: Expel Iranian ambassador from Beirut
By The Associated Press
Tags: Walid Jumblatt, Iran 

The Lebanese Druze leader called Saturday for the expulsion of Iran's ambassador and the ending of Iranian flights to Beirut because they might be carrying weapons and money to the militant Hezbollah group.

Walid Jumblatt, a member of the U.S.-backed parliamentary majority, also warned in a press conference from his family home of Mukhtara southeast of the capital, that he and parliament majority leader Saad Hariri could be targets of assassination.

"Iranian flights to Beirut should be stopped because Iranian planes might be bringing in money and military equipment," said Jumblatt, a strong critic of the Iranian-backed opposition heavyweight Hezbollah. "The Iranian ambassador should be expelled from Lebanon."
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His comments come as Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa ended a three-day visit to Beirut Saturday without reaching a breakthrough in the months-old political deadlock between the government and opposition.

Lebanon is passing through its worst political crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war and the parliament has failed 18 times to elect a new president. The country's top post has been vacant since pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud left office in November.

Jumblatt also accused Hezbollah of monitoring the traffic of politicians' executive jets with hidden cameras at the airport, possibly to assassinate them.

"I am not afraid at all but at the same time I had to confirm the information before people walk in my funeral or walk in the funeral of Saad Hariri or others because it seems they are preparing for something," he said.

Pro-government politicians have blamed Syria, which backs Hezbollah, for a wave of assassinations that have claimed the lives of about a dozen politicians, journalists and members of the army and police in the past three years. Syria denies the charges.

Commenting on Jumblatt's claims about the airport, Hezbollah said in a statement that such comments "translate his nightmares and nervous tension into a media play that includes targeting people and planes in what is closer to imagination or horror movies."

"These accusations to the resistance movements in the Arab world, including Hezbollah, makes him a propagandist who repeats George Bush's claims and State Department reports," the statement added.

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      1.   He knows what he`s talking about!@ 16:42  |  Nechama 03/05/08
      2.   The Israeli envoy Jumblatt should be expelled as well 16:44  |  Aounist 03/05/08
      3.   Iran is Behind Everything 17:41  |  MIKE 03/05/08
      4.   "resistance movements in the Arab world" 17:47  |  Yonatan 03/05/08
      5.   The Den od Terror support must be closed in every country 17:51  |  Yuri 03/05/08
      6.   Expel The Iranian&the Nasty Shiat 18:55  |  American Lebanese 03/05/08
      7.   Jumblatt is nothing more than a trouble maker 19:50  |  Harold 03/05/08
      8.   jumbalat 20:51  |  a.l. 03/05/08
      9.   Durson, Clickfool, Linthwait, Lakshmi favor Iranian imperialism? 21:10  |  Joe Sittizen 03/05/08
      10.   shame 21:13  |  Imad 03/05/08
      11.   Come on Yuri, now you have learned such wonderful words 21:21  |  Andreas 03/05/08
      12.   before Hezbollah mounts a coup de`etat 21:27  |  Realist 03/05/08
      13.   the unity of druze international comunity 21:30  |  issam ghallab 03/05/08
      14.   Mark my words, Hezbo will bring the end of Lebanon 21:33  |  Dan 03/05/08
      15.   re.4- US should Act Now 21:46  |  David K 03/05/08
      16.   re.4- US should Act Now 21:46  |  David K 03/05/08
      17.   We Love this Man-back him up with the US Navy! (end) 21:52  |  DK 03/05/08
      18.   Jumblatt 22:18  |  Nadine 03/05/08
      19.   GOD Bless you, Mr. Jumblat 22:30  |  Stuart 03/05/08
      20.   What is Walid up to? 22:47  |  Mark Lincoln 03/05/08
      21.   he is very brave 23:20  |  alan 03/05/08
      22.   Beirut 23:55  |  Rozz 03/05/08
      23.   Imad you are lost 01:56  |  Lourdes 04/05/08
      24.   #16 DAVID K: THIS WAR IS BETWEEN 03:07  |  JoeMomma 04/05/08
      25.   Another jumblatt ill thought out statement 04:19  |  Joe Blow 04/05/08
      26.   Jumblatt - Do you have any idea? 05:51  |  Garba 04/05/08
      27.   The problem with Walid is he is irrelevant. 19:30  |  ManInTheMiddle 04/05/08
      28.   Nonsensical scaremongering 16:16  |  Rowan 05/05/08
      29.   junblatt will be expelled to the hot springs of homa 20:05  |  tea man 05/05/08
      30.   Its rather funny about Syria and Iran 00:17  |  Billy the Jew 06/05/08
      31.   Lebanon and Hezbollah 02:20  |  Reid 07/05/08
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