Region | Lebanon
Junblatt wants Iran envoy expelled and ban on flights
A leading member of Lebanon's Western-backed ruling coalition called on Saturday for a ban on flights from Iran to Beirut airport, saying Hezbollah could be flying in arms from Iran.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:11 May 4, 2008
- Druze leader Walid Junblatt called for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Reda Shibani.
- Image Credit: AP
Beirut: A leading member of Lebanon's Western-backed ruling coalition called on Saturday for a ban on flights from Iran to Beirut airport, saying Hezbollah could be flying in arms from Iran.
Druze leader Walid Junblatt called for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Reda Shibani, and "a ban on the arrival of Iranian planes to Beirut because, maybe, they carry money and weapons" for Hezbollah.
Junblatt also demanded, in a press conference, the "sacking of airport security chief" General Wafik Shqeir, over alleged links to the Shiite opposition group.
He showed reporters what he said was an exchange of mail between Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Murr and army intelligence services, about the discovery of surveillance cameras near the airport.
Mousa ends visit
Junblatt said that Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, put the cameras there "to monitor the arrival of Lebanese or foreign leaders, to kidnap or assassinate [people] on the airport road".
He charged that Shqeir allowed the cameras to be placed in the area because of alleged links with Hezbollah.
"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 Sa'ad Hariri or others because it seems they are preparing for something," he said.
His comments come as Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa ended a three-day visit to Beirut yesterday without reaching a breakthrough in the months-old political deadlock between the government and opposition.
Commenting on Junblatt'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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