DAMASCUS - Syria accused the United States on Sunday of interfering in Lebanon, where parliament was is deadlocked over the election of a successor to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.

"The United States is always urging everyone not to interfere in Lebanese affairs, including the presidential election," the ruling Baath party daily, Al-Baath, said.
"And yet the US administration is always interfering everywhere in the world, including Lebanon," wrote chief editor Elias Murad.

Al-Baath particularly denounced statements made by US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch, who pledged Washington would use all means to ensure an open election in Beirut.

"We will not exhaust any means to support those who want to have a decent fair open election according to their constitution," Welch told Congress on Thursday. "This is a moment of truth for Lebanon," he added.

Washington would welcome a new Lebanese "president who represents the country of Lebanon much more ably than President Lahoud’s regrettable tenure."

Al-Baath also lashed out at Lebanon’s anti-Syrian parliamentary majority for "linking their fate, and Lebanon’s fate, to the US and Israeli agendas".

The comments came a day after Lebanon’s pro-opposition parliament speaker Nabih Berri postponed, for the third time, a special session to elect a successor for Lahoud.

The session due to take place on Monday was pushed back to November 21, a mere three days before Lahoud’s mandate expires.

The postponment is aimed at giving rival political leaders a chance to agree on a consensus candidate. -AFP