Siniora Hails Victory
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9/3/2007
Premier Fouad Siniora declared victory after the army-seized control of the Nahr Al-Bared camp. In a televised address, Siniora said that the army's victory in Northern Lebanon is similar to the victory of the resistance against Israelis in South Lebanon. Siniora pledged that the Lebanese government would rebuild Nahr al-Bared, but said that the camp would be placed under the authority of the state and 'only the Lebanese state.' Siniora meanwhile explained that he had called for a meeting of donor countries on September 10 to help in rebuilding efforts. Siniora addressed the 31,000 Palestinian refugees, telling them that the Lebanese state will stand by them so that they can return to the camp with their heads held high. Siniora added that the war was not against the Palestinians but was a joint Lebanese-Palestinian battle against terrorists. Meanwhile Siniora held this morning a telephone call with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz. Discussions focused on the situation in Lebanon and the region. The Saudi King congratulated Siniora for the Nahr Al-Bared victory. The King meanwhile stressed on Saudi Arabia's support towards the government and the legitimate institutions in Lebanon. The Prime Minister briefed the monarch on the government's plan to rebuild the battered camp. King Abdallah stressed that Saudi Arabia will deploy all possible efforts to help the Lebanese government in the reconstruction process. |
