FSA denies Lebanese buffer-zone reports
19/05/2012 By Paula Astatih
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=29679

Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat - Senior sources within the Free Syrian Army [FSA]
denied claims made by Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations
[UN] Bashar al-Jaafari that FSA commander Colonel Riad al-Asaad had
“recently arrived in Lebanon to prepare for the creation of a Syrian buffer
zone within Lebanese territory”, stressing that the FSA commander is
currently present in Istanbul where he is meeting with Turkish officials.

FSA spokesman Colonel Khalid al-Hammoud strongly denied claims that al-Asaad
was in Lebanon preparing for the establishment of a buffer zone, informing
Asharq Al-Awsat that “it is not in the FSA’s interests to establish such a
zone in Lebanon, because then we would be trapped between two enemies,
namely Hezbollah and the Syrian regime.”

He added “we are not stupid enough to undertake such an adventure, whilst we
also do not want to drag Lebanon into events that will have dire
consequences.”

The FSA spokesman also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that “when we overthrow the
Syrian regime, Hezbollah will return to its natural size and strength,
especially after we prevent this group from receiving weapons from Iran.”

Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council, Bashar
al-Jaafari, issued a statement claiming that some areas in Lebanon close to
the Lebanese – Syrian border “have become a breeding ground for Al Qaeda and
Muslim Brotherhood terrorists who are tampering with the security of Syria
and its citizens.”

He claimed that these terrorist elements “are seeking to undermine the
six-point plan of UN Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan” adding “the
headquarters of charity organizations in Lebanese regions close to the
Syrian border sponsored by Saalfist groups and the Future Movement…have been
transformed into special areas to receive and provide assistance to Al Qaeda
and Muslim Brotherhood terrorist elements.”

For his part, Lebanese Future bloc MP Khalid Daher strongly denied these
accusations, stressing that “everybody is now aware that this murderous
regime utilizes deception and lies as its primary approach” adding “this
talk represents an insult to the Lebanese government.” The Future bloc MP
claimed that al-Jaafari’s recent accusations are nothing more than an
attempt to draw attention away from the crimes against humanity taking place
in Syria today.

MP Daher also expressed his fear that the al-Assad regime is attempting to
export unrest to its neighboring countries, particularly Lebanon. He
stressed “Riad al-Asaad is not in Lebanon, nor is he planning to establish a
buffer zone in the north, although we do not deny that we have called for
the establishment of refugee camps for displaced Syrians [in Lebanon] so
that they can be provided the minimum level of comfort.”

Also responding to al-Jaafari’s statement, Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan
Charbel stressed that there is no Al Qaeda presence in Lebanon. Speaking to
Lebanon’s Al-Mustaqbal newspaper he said “as an Interior Ministry, we have
searched everywhere and we have not found any presence of Al Qaeda, whether
at the organizational level, in terms of armament or training…and there is
no expansion or plotting.”