BREITBART.COM - Bush warns Syria, Iran after Lebanon killing:
"Bush did not apportion direct blame but called for an investigation into 'those people and those forces' behind the killing of the anti-Syrian Christian leader.
'We support the Siniora government and its democracy and we support the Lebanese people's desire to live in peace and we support their efforts to defend their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran and allies to foment instability and violence in that important country,' said Bush.
The killing came against a backdrop of global calls, so far resisted by the United States, for a dialogue with Syria and Iran over chaos in Iraq.
But Bush's tone, further bolstered in a written statement on the killing, appeared to cast further doubt on already slim chances of such a diplomatic opening.
'Syria's refusal to cease and desist from its continuing efforts to destabilize Lebanon's democratically elected government' was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, Bush said.
'We also demand that Syria treat Lebanon as a genuinely sovereign neighbor, establishing full diplomatic relations with Lebanon,' he said.
The president said the assassination made it even more important for the United Nations Security Council to seek justice in the killing of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri last year.
Late Tuesday the Security Council endorsed a blueprint for a tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 murder, French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said.
US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns earlier branded the killing of Gemayel, gunned down in a Beirut suburb, as an 'act of terrorism' aimed at Syria's opponents in the country.
Rice called the Lebanese prime minister to express condolences and to reiterate the support of the United States for 'Lebanese democracy and for the Siniora government,' the State Department said.
America's ambassador to the UN John Bolton pointed the finger at Syria, noting the string of assassinations of anti-Damascus politicians in Lebanon.
'One can follow the logic there, I think,' Bolton told CNN.
Syria issued its most complete denial of involvement in the killing through its embassy here."
"Bush did not apportion direct blame but called for an investigation into 'those people and those forces' behind the killing of the anti-Syrian Christian leader.
'We support the Siniora government and its democracy and we support the Lebanese people's desire to live in peace and we support their efforts to defend their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran and allies to foment instability and violence in that important country,' said Bush.
The killing came against a backdrop of global calls, so far resisted by the United States, for a dialogue with Syria and Iran over chaos in Iraq.
But Bush's tone, further bolstered in a written statement on the killing, appeared to cast further doubt on already slim chances of such a diplomatic opening.
'Syria's refusal to cease and desist from its continuing efforts to destabilize Lebanon's democratically elected government' was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, Bush said.
'We also demand that Syria treat Lebanon as a genuinely sovereign neighbor, establishing full diplomatic relations with Lebanon,' he said.
The president said the assassination made it even more important for the United Nations Security Council to seek justice in the killing of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri last year.
Late Tuesday the Security Council endorsed a blueprint for a tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 murder, French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said.
US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns earlier branded the killing of Gemayel, gunned down in a Beirut suburb, as an 'act of terrorism' aimed at Syria's opponents in the country.
Rice called the Lebanese prime minister to express condolences and to reiterate the support of the United States for 'Lebanese democracy and for the Siniora government,' the State Department said.
America's ambassador to the UN John Bolton pointed the finger at Syria, noting the string of assassinations of anti-Damascus politicians in Lebanon.
'One can follow the logic there, I think,' Bolton told CNN.
Syria issued its most complete denial of involvement in the killing through its embassy here."
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