France mulls listing Hezbollah as terror organization

PanARMENIAN.Net - France is considering labeling Hezbollah a terrorist organizing, pending the results of a Bulgarian investigation into a terrorist attack in Burgas which killed five Israeli tourists and their bus driver, The Jerusalem Post reported citing An Nahar daily.

Last week, Bulgaria openly charged the Iranian-backed Hezbollah with having carried out the bus bombing. Deputy Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem responded that Israel was directing "allegations and incitements and accusations against Hezbollah" because it had failed to defeat it militarily.

French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Philippe Lalliot said that though the issue of labeling Hezbollah a terror group is not on the European Union agenda, the group could discuss it should one of the EU ministers propose to.

Lalliot also criticized Bulgaria for failing to present any tangible evidence of Hezbollah involvement, despite clearly fingering the group as culprits.

Meanwhile, Canada urged the EU to blacklist Hezbollah, the National Post reported. “We believe there is overwhelming evidence to suggest Hezbollah has been not just complicit, but actively carrying out terrorist attacks around the world in support of Iran,” a government official said. “We hope that the European Union will follow Canada’s lead.”