By Xinhua,
Beirut : Majority leader Saad Hariri said that Lebanon and Iraq suffer from almost the same problems and face similar challenges, local Daily Star reported Wednesday.
“Lebanon and Iraq suffer from sectarian divisions rather than political ones,” Hariri said in assessing his visit to Iraq two weeks ago.
He also noted that Lebanon and Iraq are subject to continuous attempts that jeopardize Arab unity.
However, he pointed out that “the Iraqis and Lebanese come to the conclusion that it is vital to preserve national rather than sectarian interests.”
He said Lebanese and Iraqis “should put an end to any interference in their internal affairs.”
Iraq and Lebanon faced similar sectarian tension and fighting between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
Last week, heavy clashes and sniping fire renewed between rival sectarian factions in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli, causing more casualties.
The Tripoli fighting has cast a shadow over a deal that ended a bitter political conflict between Lebanon’s Sunni-led governing coalition and an opposition alliance led by Shi’ite Hezbollah, which is close to Alawite groups in the north.
The Lebanese army deployment in the region did not succeed in bringing lasting calm despite army command orders that clashes would be handled by military force.
Hariri who is a Sunni Majority leader in Lebanon met Shiite Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad where he praised recent security cool down there.