US campaign against new Lebanon PM

The US has launched a smear campaign against Lebanon’s opposition-backed Premier Najib Mikati, alleging that Hezbollah forced the official’s recent appointment.

The Lebanese parliament recently convened to agree on a nominee to replace caretaker Premier Saad Hariri, whose government collapsed on January 12.

Two days of consultations led to the nomination of Mikati, who enjoyed the support of the opposition spectrum, among them Hezbollah. The candidate was later officially appointed to the office by President Michel Sleiman’s decree.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, said on Tuesday that the emergence of what she called a Hezbollah-led government would “clearly have an impact” on Washington’s relations with Beirut, Reuters reported.

The White House also accused the Lebanese resistance movement of using “coercion, intimidation and threats of violence” to achieve political goals.

Hezbollah’s Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah asserted, though, that the group is not striving to gain power in the country and rejected claims that Mikati was Hezbollah’s pick for the post.

The developments also come amid a political crisis rooted in the activities of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a US-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of Rafiq Hariri — Saad Hariri’s father and former premier.

The tribunal is likely to indict some Hezbollah members in the incident in what is denounced as means to sow discord in Lebanon.

Speaking to Press TV, author and political commentator, Carol Gould said Washington would have to ultimately come to terms with Mikati’s premiership if the official helps Lebanon out of the current political uncertainty.

“Well, if Prime Minster Mikati can bring stability…, then there won’t be a problem and I think the United Stated will have to accept that,” she said.

“Mikati is Harvard-educated, he is a multi-millionaire — he had a very successful mobile phone business. And if he can bring the Lebanese economy back into a positive figure, and bring stability, then that’s a good thing for Lebanon.”