Lahoud warns of U.S. conspiracy against Lebanon

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud warned Thursday of a full-size U.S. conspiracy against Lebanon, local Naharnet news website reported.

There is a huge conspiracy against Lebanon as the Americans have put Lebanon as the first country in the new Middle East that would carry out the West-style democracy, Lahoud was quoted as saying.

Lahoud was referring to U.S. President George W. Bush administration's policy to promote peace, democracy and human rights in the Middle East.

During her visit in Egypt on Oct. 3, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained the meaning of the "New Middle East" which she created after the July-August Hezbollah-Israel conflict, saying the U.S. vision for a "future Middle East in which there is a democratic Palestine living in peace with its democratic Israeli neighbor".

Lahoud denounced that after reviewing the latest press reports that over 600,000 people have died as a result of the U.S.-led invasion on Iraq, "I wonder whether this was the new Middle East they are talking about".

He urged the Lebanese to stay united and consolidated against the U.S. conspiracy at this delicate time.

Source: Xinhua