Resistance dismisses rumors of high-level shakeup as totally unfounded
Source: Daily Star, 14-12-2007
BEIRUT: Hizbullah issued a statement on Thursday dismissing reports circulated in the media about new appointments in the group's high command. The London- based Ash-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Thursday that Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had stripped Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of his military authorities and appointed his deputy, Sheikh Naim Qassem, commander of the party's military branch.
"The report published in Ash-Sharq al-Awsat is totally unfounded and lacks objectivity," said a statement issued by Hizbullah Thursday.
The group said the article "only aims to weaken the popularity Hizbullah and its secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, have gained everywhere in the Arab world after defeating 'Israel' in the summer 2006 war."
"A similar article was published in the 'Israeli' newspaper Maariv not too long ago ... which helps us know more about the groups responsible of spreading such rumors," Hizbullah added.
The Saudi-owned daily claimed that the alleged decision was taken in light of a report presented by a team from the intelligence apparatus of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards that had visited Lebanon to assess the status of Hizbullah's military and its capabilities.
"Sayyed Nasrallah is the leader of Hizbullah and he is the guardian of the resistance against occupation and Hizbullah is as united as ever," the Hizbullah statement concluded.
BEIRUT: Hizbullah issued a statement on Thursday dismissing reports circulated in the media about new appointments in the group's high command. The London- based Ash-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Thursday that Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had stripped Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of his military authorities and appointed his deputy, Sheikh Naim Qassem, commander of the party's military branch.
"The report published in Ash-Sharq al-Awsat is totally unfounded and lacks objectivity," said a statement issued by Hizbullah Thursday.
The group said the article "only aims to weaken the popularity Hizbullah and its secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, have gained everywhere in the Arab world after defeating 'Israel' in the summer 2006 war."
"A similar article was published in the 'Israeli' newspaper Maariv not too long ago ... which helps us know more about the groups responsible of spreading such rumors," Hizbullah added.
The Saudi-owned daily claimed that the alleged decision was taken in light of a report presented by a team from the intelligence apparatus of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards that had visited Lebanon to assess the status of Hizbullah's military and its capabilities.
"Sayyed Nasrallah is the leader of Hizbullah and he is the guardian of the resistance against occupation and Hizbullah is as united as ever," the Hizbullah statement concluded.
