Mikati denies describing Hezbollah as a “tumour”

The Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, admitted in a television interview on Sunday that he had described Hezbollah as a “tumour”, but clarified that it was “not a fatal tumor.” The interview comes after Wikileaks yesterday revealed that Mikati told US state department official, David Hale, that Hezbollah was a “tumour” in December 2008. Mikati also denied describing his government as a “Hezbollah government,” saying that it is not a correct assertion, as the two ministers that represent Hezbollah are the “easiest” members of his government to deal with. The Wikileaks document also alleged that Mikati had called General Michel Aoun a “joke”, but Mikati claims that the statement was made in jest. In the interview with Lebanese New Television, Mikati confirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing and respecting all international resolutions through the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, as it was not a matter of “picking and choosing.” Mikati also called on Hezbollah to appoint lawyers to defend the accused in the Hariri trial, as he does not believe that Hezbollah has any connection to the assassination.