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Obama Meets With Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri

   Kent Klein | White House 12 January 2011
   President  Barack Obama meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri
   in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, 12 Jan 2011

Photo: AP

   President  Barack Obama meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri
   in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, 12 Jan 2011

   The  government  of  Lebanon  collapsed Wednesday, shortly after Prime
   Minister  Saad  Hariri  met  with  President Barack Obama at the White
   House.   Top  U.S. officials have condemned the move by Hezbollah and
   its allies to bring the government down.     Â
   President  Obama and Prime Minister Hariri reaffirmed their commitment
   to  strengthening  Lebanonâs sovereignty and independence, even as the
   government in Beirut was collapsing.
   After  the  meeting,  the  White  House  released a written statement,
   saying  in  part,  âThe  efforts  by  the  Hezbollah-led  coalition to
   collapse  the  Lebanese government only demonstrate their own fear and
   determination  to  block  the  governmentâs  ability  to  conduct  its
   business and advance the aspirations of all of the Lebanese people.â
   According to the statement, Mr. Obama commended the prime minister for
   his  âsteadfast  leadership  and efforts to reach peace, stability and
   consensus in Lebanon under difficult circumstances.â
   Lebanonâs  year-old unity government fell when Hezbollah ministers and
   their  allies  resigned  to protest the United Nations-backed tribunal
   investigating  the  2005  assassination  of  then-Prime Minister Rafik
   Hariri, the father of the current leader.
   Hezbollah,  which  is  backed by Iran and Syria, denies involvement in
   the assassination and has denounced the tribunal.
   The White House statement says President Obama stressed the importance
   of  the tribunalâs work as a way of helping to end what it called âthe
   era of political assassinations with impunity in Lebanon.â Â
   Mr.  Obama  and  Prime  Minister Hariri discussed efforts with France,
   Saudi  Arabia  and  others  to  maintain calm in Lebanon and allow the
   tribunal to continue its work.
   An earlier White House statement said President Obama spoke with Saudi
   Arabiaâs King Abdullah by telephone late Tuesday.
   Among  other  topics,  they  discussed  ways to support Mr. Hariri and
   Lebanonâs sovereignty, independence and stability. Â
   Mr. Obama also discussed Lebanon with French President Nicolas Sarkozy
   in their White House meeting Monday.

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