Saudi Arabia on Tuesday recalled its ambassador to Lebanon following escalating of crisis in that country. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal told a press conference here Tuesday that Saudi Ambassador Abdel Aziz M. Khojah has been recalled from Beirut “for consultation” and that he (the ambassador) would return to Lebanon soon. Prince Saud said the Saudi embassy in Beirut is, however, functioning and currently engaged in evacuation of Saudi citizens still living in Lebanon. Prince Saud called on all Mideast countries to respect Lebanon's independence and refrain from stoking sectarian tensions in the country. Lebanon has suffered from almost a week of clashes between supporters of the Western-backed government and the Shiite Hezbollah opposition that have left at least 54 people dead and scores more wounded. The Lebanese army expanded its troop deployment to several tense areas around the country Tuesday, hours after it said soldiers will use force if needed to impose law and order “Of course, Iran is backing what happened in Lebanon, a coup, and supports it. It will affect its relations with all Arab countries, even the Islamic ones,” the Associated Press quoted Prince Saud as saying. “The Kingdom calls on all regional parties to respect the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon and to stop meddling in its affairs and inciting sectarian tensions,” Prince Saud added. “What is the crime the (Lebanese) government committed? Transferring ... an officer working at an airport or (challenging) a surveillance system?” said the Prince. “Would (government) measures taken to stop that deserve such violent, offensive measures, which aim at an annihilation of people,” AP quoted the minister as saying. Prince Saud reiterated Kingdom's “deep concern” over the continued military clashes in Lebanon and their spread to other cities in the region. He said the Kingdom was “strongly dismayed” over Lebanon's arms being directed at the nation and its civilian establishments. The minister asserted the Kingdom's unwavering support for legitimacy in Lebanon and said Saudi Arabia stood by the Lebanese people. The Kingdom also stood by Lebanon's high ambitions for the country's security and sovereignty - the country's constitutional right, he added. __
