Lebanese PM Meets New U.S. Ambassador After Tragedy in U.S.Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri met with new U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Vincent Battle Thursday, when the envoy expressed thanks for Lebanon's sympathy with the American people after Tuesday's tragedy in the U.S., according to Hariri's Information Office."Lebanon's support has been superb. The tragedy in the U.S. has obviously overshadowed my arrival in Lebanon, as my plane landed at the airport at the very moment the tragedy was unfolding in the United States," said the U.S. ambassador. The United States was hit by the worst terrorist attacks Tuesday morning, when two hijacked passengers planes slammed into the twin- towered World Trade Center while another one crashed into the Pentagon. The United States is and has been committed to stamping out terrorism throughout the world and the commitment has been reaffirmed by the president of the United States, by the secretary of state and by other leaders in the U.S.A., the ambassador said. "What we have throughout the world, and the Middle East in particular, is solidarity with the United States," the diplomat stressed. Hariri was among the first Arab leaders to send condolences to U.S. President George W. Bush after Tuesday's tragedy. In an interview with CNN on Wednesday night, Hariri pledged that "Lebanon will be supporting any acts against terrorism and against what happened in New York and Washington." He condemned the attacks which he said were "against our religion and all principles we stand for." He also agreed the United States has the right to punish those behind the explosions on condition that they have complete evidence |
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