WikiLeaks: Hariri Called for Immediate U.S. Assistance to Confront Hizbullah During May 7 Events

Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri has reportedly said during the May 7, 2008 events that the U.S. should provide immediate assistance to the March 14 forces.

In a WikiLeaks cable dated May 12, 2008, Hariri told former U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison that Washington should provide support to al-Mustaqbal movement in the next 24 hours to confront Hizbullah which controlled large parts of Sunni West Beirut.

Al-Mustaqbal needs U.S. assistance within hours and not days, he allegedly said, warning that the March 14 coalition cannot confront Hizbullah for long.

Hariri, according to the cable, stressed on the importance of the visit of the Arab delegation headed by Qatar to put an end to the fighting between the two sides.

He allegedly told Sison that he agreed with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, who was still part of the March 14 alliance, to withdraw cabinet decisions to dismiss head of the Beirut airport security and to announce Hizbullah’s telecommunications network as illegal.