UK restores links with Hezbollah

[Every Man A King]

Source: BBC

Britain says it is re-establishing contacts with the political wing of the Lebanese movement Hezbollah.

"We are exploring certain contacts at an official level with Hezbollah's political wing, including MPs," said a spokesperson for the Foreign Office.

The spokesperson said the UK was doing "all it can" to support Lebanon's unity government, of which Hezbollah's political wing is a part.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7927025.stm

[Sultana]

1. ah, sounds like a bad idea

Won't this give them credibility?

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. credibility is already a fact on the ground

and for good reason. This is merely a reflection of reality, a rare occurance from certain sources.

[bemildred]

2. US 'not ready' to follow British contact with Hezbollah

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said Friday it "is not ready" to follow its ally Britain in opening low-level contact with the political wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah, called a terrorist group by Washington.

Gordon Duguid, a State Department spokesman, told reporters that President Barack Obama's administration, which has promised to reach out to US foes, had been consulted by Britain before the announcement Friday.

But Duguid insisted the new administration was following longstanding US policy -- including that of the preceding George W. Bush administration -- to shun contacts with Hezbollah's political and armed wings.

"We are not ready to take the same step, no. Our position on Hezbollah has not changed," Duguid told reporters, declining to either praise or criticize the British move.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jEF01qEHdgMJcAiiGeH0oVtEGl6w