Saudi says Lebanon violence will affect Iran ties

Source: Reuters

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday Iranian-backed Hezbollah's routing of the Western-backed government's supporters in Lebanon would affect the Islamic Republic's ties with Arab countries.

"Of course, for Iran to back the coup that happened in Lebanon and support it will have an impact on its relations with all Arab countries," Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said at a news conference.

Lebanon's army stepped up patrols on Tuesday as part of a drive to restore order after a week of fighting between Hezbollah fighters and pro-government gunmen.

Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Muslim movement backed by Iran and Syria, and its opposition allies have routed supporters of the Sunni-led government in Beirut and hills to the east in fighting that has pushed Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war.

Prince Saud said his country, a Sunni Muslim power and strong backer of the Lebanese government, was gravely concerned about what he called the "coup" that had taken place in Lebanon.

Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2008/May/middleeast_May314.xml§ion=middleeast

All this stuff in the news about Iran... but the story about SA being the largest source of funding for terror goes quietly down the memory hole.

President Obama cannot come soon enough.