By Country / Iran
Siniora Says Iran Waging Proxy War On U.S. In Lebanon
January 27, 2007
Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora (left) with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad at a meeting in December 2005 (epa)
He also said that Iran and Syria are conducting a "coup" against his government, since they have provided arms to Lebanon's Hizballah party.
Siniora told "Focus" that the "Iranians say they want to defeat the U.S." and demanded that Lebanon not be used as the battlefield.
Deadly violence in Lebanon, following a call by the Shi'ite Hizballah for a general strike on January 23 to pressure the government, has renewed fears that the country could slide into civil war like the conflict that devastated it in 1975-90.
A Hizballah-organized sit-in outside Siniora's downtown offices is nearing the start of its third month.
Hizballah is demanding that Siniora give it one-third of the seats in his cabinet and call early elections.