French lawmakers urge terror label for Hezbollah

Paris, Feb 3: Deputies from France's ruling centre-right UMP party have called on President Jacques Chirac to persuade his European colleagues to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organisation.

The US government considers Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Muslim group whose guerrillas fought a 34-day war with Israel last July and August, a terrorist organisation. But Hezbollah does not appear on the European Union's list of terrorist groups.

In a letter to Chirac, sent earlier this month and released TOday, some 40 lawmakers said France should ''propose the inscription of Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organisations during the next European Union council meeting''.

''The situation in the West Asia is explosive,'' it said.

''Hezbollah plays an important role in the Lebanese crisis.

Financed and instrumentalised by Iran and Syria, it seriously threatens the possibility of a peace solution in this region.'' ''We must be clear and admit that Hezbollah is at the origin of multiple attacks, hostage-taking and arms traffic,'' it said.

There was no comment from Chirac's office.

Chirac has insisted Hezbollah must recognise the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

The EU has blacklisted the Palestinian militant group Hamas but has resisted US and Israeli pressure to do the same to Hezbollah.

Reuters