Lebanon Hosts Syrian and Saudi Leaders Friday
VOA News
30 July 2010
Syrian and Saudi leaders have arrived in Lebanon for a rare meeting aimed to defuse tension about a possible Hezbollah indictment for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah will hold talks with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman in Beirut, Friday.
A large delegation of Lebanese officials were on hand for a welcoming ceremony at the airport, where officials hoisted the flags of all three nations together in an apparent goodwill gesture.
The three men will discuss a United Nations investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri, the father of the country's current prime minister, Saad Hariri.
The meeting marks Mr. Assad's first visit to Beirut since the assassination.
The Hezbollah faction in Lebanon has denied involvement in the assassination but fears the U.N. probe will result in the indictment of some of its members. Syria has had strong ties to Hezbollah. Many countries blamed Syria for the assassination but Damascus has denied involvement.
The leaders will address fears that new clashes could erupt between Lebanon's Shi'ite and Sunni communities if Hezbollah leaders are indicted.
Mr. Hariri was killed along with 22 others in a truck bombing in Beirut.
King Abdullah and Mr. Assad arrived together from Syria, where they held talks Thursday.
The Saudi king is also expected to discuss Syria's ties to Iran and influence on the Hezbollah faction in Lebanon.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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