Hariri: Khamenei has his opinions, we have ours

Dec 21, 2010, 15:35 GMT

Beirut - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday he respected Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was free to express his opinions, but added that Beirut would also stand up for its own views.

Hariri was referring to remarks by Khamenei on Monday that any verdict by the UN-backed court into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri would be 'null and void.'

Khamenei's 'stance was an Iranian position. We as a government have our own stances,' Hariri said.

The supreme leader's remarks would not influence the Saudi-Syrian mediation to find a solution to the current crisis in Lebanon, Hariri said.

'The Syrian-Saudi efforts are making progress although slowly,' the premier added.

He also stressed that the Lebanese are committed to dialogue and stability because they want their country to be an example of coexistence.

Hariri, son of the slain former premier, visited Iran last month seeking its help to defuse political tensions in Lebanon over the forthcoming UN ruling which is widely expected to indict some members of the Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Political tension has been simmering for months in Lebanon between the Hezbollah-led opposition and Hariri's followers, over the upcoming indictment by the UN Tribunal probing the Hariri assassination.

There are fears that an indictment of some Hezbollah members might trigger sectarian strife in Lebanon between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

Hezbollah has warned it 'will cut off the hand of anyone' who names any Hezbollah member in the Hariri assassination and described the UN tribunal as an 'Israeli-US project.'

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