Beirut, Dec 06: The Shiite Muslim Hezbollah Guerrilla group today denied Israeli claims that al Qaeda terrorists
have infiltrated Lebanon or were cooperating with their group.
"Al Qaeda has no presence in Lebanon and there is no
relationship between Hezbollah and al Qaeda,'' the group said in a statement in Beirut.
The denial, which has been made on numerous occasions,
comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon charged that al Qaeda members had infiltrated the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon and are working to target Israel.
Sharon, who gave no details, said al Qaeda people were in
"close cooperation'' with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed
guerrilla group that was instrumental in forcing Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon after an 18-year
occupation in 2000.
Sharon's accusation prompted a swift denial by Lebanese
President Emile Lahoud, who issued a statement Thursday saying there were no al Qaeda members in Lebanon and ``no al Qaeda coordination or cooperation'' with Hezbollah.
Hezbollah - which is on the state department's list of terrorist organisations - warned that "such statements issued
by Sharon and Israeli officials hide aggressive intentions
against Lebanon and increase our strength and determination to our rightful commitment in defending our people, land and dignity".
The group's statement said the charges were in the
framework of a ``programmed'' campaign by Israeli officials
that began with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United
States.
Bureau Report
