US watches Doha talks fearing Hezbollah may reap political gains

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States voiced support Friday for talks in Qatar aimed at ending Lebanon's sectarian clashes while hoping from afar that Hezbollah does not turn its military gains into political ones.

US officials have contacted Qatar's prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani and other Arab mediators to assure them of support for negotiations between Lebanon's pro-Western majority and Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria.

"What we are doing is making it clear first of all that we do support this process because there are a lot of people who would like to say that we don't," a senior US State Department official, who requested anonymity, told reporters.

"We are in touch with Lebanese from across the political spectrum ... to note that we...