Berri Warns Against Large-Scale Punitive Strikes Against Syrian Regime

Speaker Nabih Berri warned on Friday that Lebanon would fail to confront the consequences of large-scale U.S. military strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime over its alleged use of chemical weapons.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Berri said: “If the strike was limited, then we could contain its repercussions.”

“Otherwise, we cannot predict its consequences,” he said.

His remarks echoed similar comments made by Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, who told the Associated Press in an interview that a Western military strike would escalate tensions in Lebanon and may dramatically increase the number of Syrian refugees.

Asked about the efforts to put together a new government,Berri told the daily that no progress has been made.

“It should have been formed months ago,” he said.

The speaker held the March 14 alliance responsible for the failure of Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam to form his cabinet.

“We can't form a government without Hizbullah's participation in it,” he said in response to the insistence of March 14 to keep the the party away from the line-up over its fighting in Syria's civil war alongside Assad's troops.

“There are no vetoes in Lebanon. No one can put a veto on anyone,” Berri, who is a close Hizbullah ally, said.