Middle East News

Lebanon's Hezbollah taking wait-and-see position on British contact

Mar 6, 2009, 11:48 GMT

Beirut - The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah is adopting a 'wait and see' position towards the British government decision to establish contacts with the movement's parliamentarians, a Hezbollah source said Friday. The source said the 'movement was waiting on what steps Britain would take after,' he said without elaborating. On Thursday, the British Foreign Office confirmed that it had 'reconsidered' its position on contacts with Hezbollah. 'This is in light of more positive recent political developments in Lebanon, including the formation of the National Unity Government in which Hezbollah are participating,' a spokeswoman said. Britain was 'exploring certain contacts' at an official level with Hezbollah's political wing, including members of parliament, but would have no contacts with the movement's military wing, proscribed by the British government in July 2008. Hezbollah's political wing was part of a National Unity Government in Lebanon and Britain was 'doing all it can' to support that government. Britain has had no official talks with Hezbollah since 2005.

Middle East News

Lebanon's Hezbollah taking wait-and-see position on British contact

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