Lebanon's new cabinet said on Saturday it would foster close ties with its political master Syria. Speaking after the cabinet's first meeting, Lebanese Information Minister Michel Samaha said both President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri had urged close links with Syria.
"The president indicated that the new government comes at a very sensitive time regionally," said Samaha. "(It comes) in the shadow of pressures and accusations, which Israel is behind, targeting Syria and Lebanon to give up ... their principled stand that calls for resistance to occupation," he said, quoting Lahoud.
"We must deal with...the importance of internal solidarity and solidarity with our Syrian brothers so we face as one the challenges directed at us," said Samaha, quoting Hariri. (Albawaba.com)
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