Aoun: Syrian uprising serves external interests

Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun said on Saturday that the “what is happening in Syria serves [external] interests and the plans to divide [the region].” “I do not believe that the international community, which is supporting the violence movement in Syria, wants to realise human rights,” Aoun said during his meeting with a delegation of Syrian women. Aoun also called on the Syrian people to resort to dialogue instead of weapons. He also called for “respecting the freedom of religious and political belief, freedom of expression and freedom of difference.” Lebanon's political scene is split between supporters of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, led by Hezbollah, and the pro-Western March 14 camp. The Syrian authorities blame "armed terrorist gangs" for the violence which has swept the country in the eight months since the security forces launched a crackdown on protests that erupted in March. The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have died in the lethal crackdown on dissent, mostly civilians.