WikiLeaks: Miqati was ‘Ashamed’ of Providing al-Akhbar Newspaper with 150 Thousand Dollars

Najib Miqati said that he was ashamed of providing al-Akhbar newspaper with a 150,000 dollar budget, said a November 12, 2006, WikiLeaks cable published exclusively in al-Jumhuriya newspaper on Thursday.

During a meeting between with then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman, the former prime minister was asked about his ties to al-Akhbar.

“I’m ashamed of having had provided the newspaper with a 150 thousand dollars as a preliminary budget,” Miqati replied.

The cable said that he “refuses to get involved anymore” with al-Akhbar because of its “blatant propaganda campaigns,” adding that he isn’t one of the newspaper owners.