HARIRI WITHDRAWS ACCUSATION AGAINST SYRIA FOR ANY ROLE IN HIS FATHER'S ASSASSINATION

Unreal: Lebanon PM Hariri withdraws accusation against Syria

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said he was wrong to accuse Syria of assassinating his father - former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri.

He told the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that the charge had been politically motivated.

Mr Hariri added that Lebanon and Syria had deep ties and that an international inquiry into his father's killing had been misled by false testimony.

Rafik Hariri died in a massive truck bomb attack in Beirut in 2005.

In the interview with Asharq al-Awsat, Mr Hariri said: "At a certain stage we made mistakes and accused Syria of assassinating the martyred premier. This was a political accusation, and this political accusation has finished."

Correspondents say the statement represents a major switch for Saad Hariri, who for years blamed Damascus for his father's death. Syria has always denied involvement.

THIS PUTS LEBANON SQUARELY IN THE IRANIAN AXIS.

This is WAY WAY bigger than Obama losing us the Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. It's as big as Obama having dithered during the Iranian Revolt.

The Iranians and Hizballah got to Hariri. And - unless Saudis protest - it means that Iran they got to Hariri's benefactors in Riyadh.

What threat could make both Hariri (and perhaps even the House of Saud) retreat!?

It must be HUGE.

Either blackmail or... hmm what!? Assassination threats? Nuke threats!?

Dunno. Stay tuned...