LOC00:43
21:43 GMT
WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo affirmed on Wednesday that Washington will back the new Lebanese government if it responds to the people's reform demands.
"We'll have to take a look at it. I don't know the answer to that yet. I saw what happened over the last 24 hours," he said in an interview with Bloomberg.
"We've been very clear about the requirements for the United States to engage. Lebanon has a terrible financial crisis that lays in front of it in just the weeks ahead.
"We're prepared to engage, provide support, but only to a government that's committed to reform," he noted.
"That's important for America, but if "you look at the protests that are taking place in Beirut and cities outside of Beirut, you can see, just like in Baghdad - go look at the protests in Baghdad - these aren't anti-American protests; these are protests demanding sovereignty and freedom."
He pointed out that the US wants a government that reflects the will of the people of Lebanon.
"If this government is responsive to that and there's a new set of leaders that's prepared to make those commitments and deliver on that, that's the kind of government that we'll support around the world and the kind of government we would support in Lebanon," he stated.
Lebanon announced Tuesday the formation of a new government with 20 ministers under the chairmanship of Hassan Diab. It is the third government in the era of President Michel Aoun. (end)
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