LOC19:48
16:48 GMT
By Joe Macaron
WASHINGTON, June 7 (KUNA) -- The US Department of Defense said on Thursday
that the bulk of US assistance to Lebanon in the last weeks was paid by the
Lebanese government as violent clashes continued between the Lebanese armed
forces and the radical group Fatah al-Islam.
"In light of recent events and urgent requests from the Government of
Lebanon, we continue to accelerate deliveries of planned US military
assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and we are enlisting the support of
international partners to provide additional assistance" said Lieutenant
Colonel Karen Finn in the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense to KUNA.
"Most of the deliveries to support the Lebanese Armed Forces over the last
several weeks were purchased with Lebanese national funds, rather than US
security assistance monies", she affirmed.
The Congress already allocated before the recent crisis in Lebanon erupted
USD 769.5 million in assistance to Beirut in the Fiscal year 2007 Emergency
Supplemental, a dramatic increase if compared to the average assistance of USD
50 million in the last few years, of which 220 million dollars went for the
Lebanese Armed Forces and USD 60 million for the internal security forces.
Finn expressed full support for Prime Minister Siniora and "Lebanon's
legitimate and democratically-elected government as it confronts terrorism".
"The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Internal Security Forces are
confronting hostile forces that oppose a peaceful, stable Lebanon" she added.
The US administration recently asked Congress for additional USD 30.6
million for the Lebanese army under the National Defense Authorization Act of
2007, which will be automatically delivered to Lebanon next week if no member
of Congress opposed this move in the coming few days.
"The Lebanese people deserve an independent and secure country in which the
people are free to make decisions without fear of violence and intimidation",
noted Finn.
The Pentagon source praised the Lebanese government for "taking all
precautions to limit civilian casualties as it confronts Fatah al-Islam" she
concluded. (end)
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