THE TELEGRAPH: Britain's ambassador to Lebanon has been condemned by victims of Middle East terror groups for writing an appreciation of the spiritual leader of Hizbollah who masterminded the 1980s Lebanese hostage crisis.
Frances Guy, who has been ambassador since 2008, wrote a blog marking the death of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah who died last week. She described the ayatollah as a "decent" man who ranked as the person she most admired out of all those she had encountered.
Hizbollah has been proscribed by the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2008.
Ayatollah Fadlallah was a hugely divisive figure in the Middle East. He help found the Hizbollah movement that fought the American intervention in Lebanon and then went on to take dozens of foreigners as hostages, including Terry Waite, John McCarthy and Brian Keenan.
Fatwas or religious instructions issued by Fadlallah authorised suicide bombers who attacked American troops or Israel. Hizbollah carried out the 1983 suicide bomb attacks that killed more 300 people at the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.
"If I was sad to hear the news I know other peoples' lives will be truly blighted," she wrote. "The world needs more men like him willing to reach out across faiths, acknowledging the reality of the modern world and daring to confront old constraints. May he rest in peace."
The Israeli government said it was astounded that an official representative of the British government had not remembered the devastation caused by fighters loyal to Fadlallah. >>> Damien McElroy and Adrian Bloomfield in Jerusalem | Thursday, July 08, 2010
BBC: Israel has criticised Britain's ambassador to Lebanon for eulogising a recently deceased Lebanese cleric said to have inspired Hezbollah.
Frances Guy wrote on her personal blog that Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was a "decent man" who rated among the people she most admired.
An Israeli spokesman said Ayatollah Fadlallah was "unworthy of praise".
The UK foreign office says it has taken down the blog after "mature consideration".
It said the comments reflected Ms Guy's personal opinion, not official UK policy.
Ayatollah Fadlallah, Lebanon's top Shia Muslim cleric, died on Sunday at the age of 74. Thousands of people attended his funeral in Beirut and tributes poured in from all over the Arab and Islamic worlds.
Two days ago, CNN sacked a veteran Middle East editor who wrote on Twitter that she "respected" the late cleric, saying that her credibility had been compromised. >>> | Friday, July 09, 2010
YNET NEWS: In personal blog, Britain's ambassador to Lebanon calls Hezbollah spiritual leader 'decent man'
Britain's ambassador to Lebanon surprised many people in London and Beirut Thursday by venerating Hezbollah's recently deceased spiritual leader.
In her personal blog, Frances Guy wrote that Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was "a decent man". Israel's Foreign Ministry said in response later that Fadlallah is "unworthy of praise". >>> Roee Nahmias | Thursday, July 08, 2010
Frances Guy should be given her marching orders forthwith, as was Octavia Nasr by CNN for coming out with a similar stupid statement. Frances Guy should not be allowed to represent Her Majesty’s government. – © Mark
