Lebanon's Shiite Hizbullah group lashed out at the United States Friday for its alleged interference in Lebanon's domestic politics, the Beirut press reported Saturday. At the same time, there were signs of discord between France and the United States over Hizbullah's role in the government, which Prime Minister-designate Fuad Siniora is trying to form. While French President Jacques Chirac said that Hizbullah should participate fully in the Lebanese government, a senior U.S. official currently visiting Lebanon, was reported as saying that those who take part in the government should "be credible and people we can deal with." This was taken as an implicit "veto" on Hizbullah, which is on the U.S. government's list of terrorist organizations.

"I believe there is an American veto on the Shiite alliance's nomination of a foreign minister," a leading Hizbullah official was reported as saying Saturday by the daily Al Mutaqbal, mouthpiece of the Future Movement of Saad Hariri. The Shiite alliance comprises Hizbullah and Amal Movement of House Speaker Nabih Berri. The official said Hizbullah was not insisting on the foreign ministry portolio on religious or confessional grounds, "but primarily on political grounds." His remarks came as U.S. State Department official Elizabeth Debell was making visits to various Lebanese government officials including Berri and Siniora.

Speaking to the press Friday, Debell expressed the hope a new Lebanese government will be formed quickly so things can move forward. She added that the international community will be ready to help Lebanon once the Lebanese government has a clear plan of reforms.

Hizbullah's deputy chief Sheikh Naim Kassem launched a scathing attack on what he called "foreign dictates regarding the formation of the government" in Lebanon. He added, according to Al; Mutaqbal and others, that the main reason for the delay in forming a government was "because of those who listen to American instructions on how to form a government and U.S. veto on certain organizations and individuals."

Debell also commented Friday on Hizbullah's weapons and said, "We know this is a difficult and complicated subject." Hizbullah's Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah not only agreed, but he said, "it is impossible to disarm Hizbullah." He was speaking at a commemoration ceremony for a Hizbullah fighter. "Neither America nor the whole West can disarm Hizbullah," Nasrallah said according to the daily An Nahar Saturday. One of the main challenges facing the new Lebanese government is the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for the disarming of all local and foreign armed groups in Lebanon.

Meawhile, French President Chirac spoke about conditions in Lebanon on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Scotland yesterday. An Nahar and others reported Chirac's remarks in which he welcomed the changes but condemned the targeted killings that happened recently. The president said the international community stood to help Lebanon if Lebanon tried to help itself. He noted that Syria continued to have an influence in Lebanon despite withdrawal of its forces from the country and Hizbullah still had its weapons.

Chirac added that the only solution is to allow Hizbullah and the whole Shiite community to be fully involved in decision making in Lebanon. This is a clear contrast to the remarks made by U.S. State Department official Debell, according to the Beirut daily Al Balad Saturday. It explained that while Chirac advised full political involvement by Hizbullah and the entire Shiite community, Debell wanted "credible people we can deal with."

Debell, who met political leaders but not pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, said the international community was ready to assist Premier-designate Siniora in his efforts to implement reforms, which she said "would include economic reforms, judicial reforms, and the electoral law reform". Lebanon is saddled with a $36 billion debt. Its electoral law was drawn up under Syrian tutelage to give its allies an advantage in polls.

Asked how Washington would react to having Hizbullah join the new cabinet, Debell said the Lebanese government was a Lebanese issue but added: "It is our hope that the government that is formed is one we can work with."