Democratic candidate for the US presidential elections Barak Obama stressed on supporting Lebanon against extremism and Syrian-Iranian interference in its internal affairs.

He also stressed on the need to convene the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to try the assassins of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.

“The ongoing political crisis is resulting in the destabilization of Lebanon, which is an important country in the Middle East. The US cannot watch while Lebanon’s fresh democracy is about to collapse,” Obama said.

“Washington musts rectify the wrong policy of President George Bush in Lebanon and resort to an efficient and permanent diplomacy, rather than empty slogans,” he added.

He also said that the US must cooperate with its European and Arab allies to sponsor an inter-Lebanese consensus on a stable and democratic Lebanon.

Obama accused the administration of ignoring Lebanon during Bush’s first term and said that the assassination of Hariri caught his attention.

“Only then did the US administration take the appropriate steps, pressure the Syrian regime to end its hostile presence in Lebanon, and call on the international community to identify and punish those responsible for this crime,” Obama said.

He also called for the implementation of Security Council resolutions related to Lebanon, including Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah to give up its weapons.

“Syria and Iran are still violating this resolution,” Obama said.

“We must keep supporting the democratically-elected government of PM Fouad Siniora, strengthening the Lebanese army and insisting on the disarmament of Hezbollah before it leads Lebanon into another unnecessary war,” Obama said.

-NOW Staff