Saudi Arabia expressed deep concern, on Thursday, over Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition's escalation of confrontation with the government, saying the conflict would only benefit “extremist external forces”. “The Kingdom urges the groups behind the escalation to reconsider their position, and to realize that leading Lebanon toward turmoil will not bring victory to any party except extremist external forces which have been disrupting all efforts to end the political crisis in Lebanon,” the state news agency SPA quoted an official source as saying. The comments came on the second day of anti-government protests in Beirut, with gunfights in several parts of the country, roads blocked and Lebanon's only international airport effectively shut down, in a major escalation of a long-running political crisis. The Kingdom also called on the Lebanese brothers to listen to the voice of reason and put their country's interest above any other considerations. “The Kingdom affirms that it has been proceeding with all its potential to work for the restoration of security, safety and unity of Lebanon, and it will spare no efforts to assist Lebanon and to stand by it in defending its legitimacy, independence and national unity,” the SPA report said. An official source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that in view of the serious escalation of the situations at the Lebanese arena, the Kingdom supports convening an extraordinary urgent meeting for the Ministerial Council of the Arab League in Cairo to discuss the Lebanese crisis and its repercussions, the SPA said. Also on Thursday, Abdurrahman Bin Hamad Al-Ariyah, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab League spokesman Ahmed Bin Hilly, expressed their concern about the situation in Lebanon. They called upon all Lebanese parties to put forth the higher national interests of Lebanon before any other interests. Meanwhile, Hezbollah on Thursday flatly rejected proposals by Lebanon's majority bloc aimed at ending fierce sectarian clashes that have killed at least seven people, the militant group's Al-Manar television reported. “Majority leader Saad Hariri's bid to draw the army into an affair that does not concern it has been flatly and quickly rejected,” Al- Manar said. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned on Thursday that a Lebanese government crackdown on his group was tantamount to a “declaration of war.”
