(Lebanon Twitte)-BEIRUT — Lebanon's prime minister-designate Najib Mikati describes the powerful Hezbollah, whose backing was key to his nomination, as a "tumour," in a 2008 US diplomatic cable revealed by a Lebanese daily on Tuesday.
WikiLeaks cables published by al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday exposed the dislike for Hezbollah and Syria by their current allies . Aoun predicted back in 2005 that the Syrian regime will collapse, while Mikati called Hezbollah a cancer and Jumblatt said Berri is a liar.
Billionaire businessman, who was appointed premier in January, is quoted as telling US officials that the Iranian- and Syrian-backed militant party was a "tumor that must be removed", according to the Al-Jumhuriya.
The newspaper was citing a WikiLeaks cable filed by the US embassy in Lebanon on January 12, 2008.
Mikati also reportedly called for better U.S. ties with Lebanon and Syria to “contain” Hezbollah, warning that the main objective of the Shiite party was to form an Iranian military base on the Mediterranean.
The dream of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Khomeini of exporting the Iranian revolution needed a “launch pad which is Lebanon, he said. Achieving this objective requires a lot of time but Hezbollah is “patient, he added.
Mikati's office released a statement saying the comments did not "reflect his convictions" and had political motives, without specifying.
"The prime minister will not get involved in debates with any party, especially over ... words and positions that are in part untrue, in part inaccurate and most of which go back years," read the statement.
Mikati was appointed in January as the PM designate with the backing of the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance , MPs Walid Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi . March 14 leaders have repeatedly stated that intimidation from Hezbollah’s weapons helped secure the parliamentary majority for Mikati’s nomination.
Jumblatt and his PSP parliament members reportedly switched allegiance to Hezbollah’s PM candidate, following threats by Hezbollah.
Jumblatt, Mikati and Safadi were all elected on March 14 electoral tickets during the 2009 parliamentary elections.
March 8 is now claiming the parliament majority .
According to observers , up until now Hezbollah has been hiding behind FPM leader Michel Aoun in creating obstacles for Mikati .
WikiLeaks cables published by al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday exposed the dislike for Hezbollah and Syria by their current allies . Aoun predicted back in 2005 that the Syrian regime will collapse, while Mikati called Hezbollah a cancer and Jumblatt said Berri is a liar.
Billionaire businessman, who was appointed premier in January, is quoted as telling US officials that the Iranian- and Syrian-backed militant party was a "tumor that must be removed", according to the Al-Jumhuriya.
The newspaper was citing a WikiLeaks cable filed by the US embassy in Lebanon on January 12, 2008.
Mikati also reportedly called for better U.S. ties with Lebanon and Syria to “contain” Hezbollah, warning that the main objective of the Shiite party was to form an Iranian military base on the Mediterranean.
The dream of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Khomeini of exporting the Iranian revolution needed a “launch pad which is Lebanon, he said. Achieving this objective requires a lot of time but Hezbollah is “patient, he added.
Mikati's office released a statement saying the comments did not "reflect his convictions" and had political motives, without specifying.
"The prime minister will not get involved in debates with any party, especially over ... words and positions that are in part untrue, in part inaccurate and most of which go back years," read the statement.
Mikati was appointed in January as the PM designate with the backing of the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance , MPs Walid Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi . March 14 leaders have repeatedly stated that intimidation from Hezbollah’s weapons helped secure the parliamentary majority for Mikati’s nomination.
Jumblatt and his PSP parliament members reportedly switched allegiance to Hezbollah’s PM candidate, following threats by Hezbollah.
Jumblatt, Mikati and Safadi were all elected on March 14 electoral tickets during the 2009 parliamentary elections.
March 8 is now claiming the parliament majority .
According to observers , up until now Hezbollah has been hiding behind FPM leader Michel Aoun in creating obstacles for Mikati .
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