WASHINGTON — US President George W. Bush said yesterday that Hezbollah could "prove" it is not a terrorist group by disarming and not challenging the Middle East peace process. Asked whether he supported a political role for Hezbollah in Lebanon, Bush replied: "We view Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation, and I would hope that Hezbollah would prove that they're not by laying down arms and not threatening peace."
Bush's comments came as he met in his Oval Office Jordan's King Abdullah to discuss Iraq, democratic reforms in the Middle East and efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "One of our concerns, which his majesty and I discussed, is that Hezbollah may try to derail the peace process between Israeli and the Palestinians," said the US president.
"And it's very important that this peace process go forward, for the sake of the Palestinians, for the sake of the Israelis, and for the sake of all the people in the region," said Bush.
| "So, we might just have to kill them all, unless they surrender their arms and save their lives," he added carefully. |
"Hezbollah has been declared a terrorist organisation by the US because of terrorist activities in the past," said the president. |