Lebanese Forces party blasts Sudan leader’s Syria visit

By Wassim Seifeddine

BEIRUT

The Lebanese Forces, a Lebanese Christian political party, has denounced a recent visit to Damascus by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

On Sunday, al-Bashir was received in Damascus by Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, with whom he reportedly discussed bilateral relations and regional developments.

In a Monday statement, the Lebanese Forces expressed its "surprise" over al-Bashir’s visit, claiming the Sudanese president had "ignored the suffering of 10 million Syrians” displaced by conflict.

"Al-Bashir visited Damascus as if there was no need whatsoever for any political process in Syria," the party asserted.

"Under the current circumstances, any visit to Damascus comes at the expense of hundreds of thousands of slain Syrians and will contribute to keeping Syria fragmented," it added.

Led by veteran Lebanese politician Samir Geagea, the Lebanese Forces currently holds 15 seats in the country’s 128-member parliament.