Saudi Arabia says halts $3 bln package to Lebanese army

Feb 29, 2016, 03:21
Saudi Arabia says halts $3 bln package to Lebanese army

The Saudi Press Agency quoted a Saudi official claiming Hezbollah has "hijacked the will of the state in Lebanon".

"If other producers want to limit or agree to a freeze in terms of additional production, that may have an impact on the market, but Saudi Arabia is not prepared to cut production", Jubeir told AFP in an exclusive interview.

Lebanon has a sectarian divide that reflects the wider regional split between Sunni and Shiite powerhouses Saudi Arabia and Iran, and has always been a battlefield where the region's proxy wars play out.

It was referring to an attack by Iranian demonstrators protesting over the execution by Saudi Arabia of a senior Sh'ite cleric convicted of incitement to violence.

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Syria's war has exacerbated political rivalries within Lebanon, which has been without a president for nearly two years because of fierce disagreements between Hezbollah and its rivals.

Rifi's resignation statement also cited alleged Hezbollah interference in the case of Lebanon's former information minister Michel Samaha, who is facing charges of having planned "terrorist" acts. The Lebanese decision is "inconsistent with the fraternal relations between the two countries and they are not taking into account their interests".

Saudi Arabia backs insurgents fighting against Assad.

"The entire world and especially the Lebanese and the local and global financial institutions know full well that Saudi Arabia is suffering a severe financial crisis", Hezbollah said.

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"Based on all these facts and in light of these positions (taken by Lebanon), the Kingdom has made a comprehensive review of its relations with the Lebanese Republic to protect Saudi interests, the Saudi announcement said".

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's decision came after Lebanon repeatedly took negative, offensive and weird positions against pan-Arab consensus despite contact with the relevant Lebanese authorities.

Saudi Arabia is halting a $3bn (£2.1bn) military aid package to Lebanon, as part of what one Saudi official called a "reassessment" of relations.

This included a deal for about 200 armoured vehicles.

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