Report: Syria rejects four Lebanese ambassadorial candidates

Nov 13, 2008, 14:59 GMT

Beirut - Syria has rejected four ambassadorial candidates put forward to represent Lebanon in Syria, Lebanon's Naharnet news website reported Thursday.

'The process of exchanging ambassadors between the two countries has come to a standstill,' the website quoted an informed source as saying.

A Lebanese Foreign Ministry official, who requested anonymity, said, 'At least four names of candidates who can be appointed as ambassadors to Lebanon in Syria were presented and none were accepted.'

The source refused to be drawn on the reasons behind the rejection, but a source close to Lebanon's anti-Syrian ruling parliamentary majority said, 'The names did not fit the Syrian political criteria.'

'Syria clearly wants someone from the (Hezbollah-led) opposition to be Lebanon's ambassador in Damascus... Most of the names which were given, were names of candidates who are neutral figures and can serve the interests of Lebanon,' the source added.

Lebanon and Syria agreed in mid-October to establish diplomatic ties for the first time since their independence from colonial power France in the 1940s. Official statements have said embassies will open before the end of this year.

Syria, once Lebanon's powerbroker, was forced to end its 30-year military presence in the country on April 2005, amid international pressure in the wake of the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former premier Rafik Hariri.

Damascus vehemently denies allegations of its involvement in Hariri's murder.