July 21, 2010 - Now Lebanon - Damascus surprised by Nasrallah’s STL speech, Al-Hayat reports

Al-Hayat newspaper reported on Wednesday that Syrian officials were surprised by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech last Friday.

The Syrian government had not been briefed on the speech before Nasrallah made it, the daily added.

In his speech, Nasrallah accused the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) of being an Israeli project aiming to target the Resistance by stirring up sectarian strife in Lebanon. March 14 alliance politicians roundly condemned the speech.

The daily also reported that Syria was astonished by the increased tension in Lebanon following the Hezbollah chief’s address.

“Damascus is not concerned with talks saying the cabinet in Lebanon might be changed,” the newspaper also reported.

Al-Hayat added that Syria places great importance in stabilizing the security situation in Lebanon.