Lebanese opposition politician ridicules US sanctions against him

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A pro-Syrian Lebanese opposition official on Tuesday ridiculed the US Treasury Department's decision to impose economic sanctions against him and said the measures will not stop him from opposing American policy and US allies in the Lebanese government. Wi'am Wahhab, a former Cabinet minister, described as "silly" and "full of mistakes" the US decision, which involved him and three others - a Lebanese member of Parliament and two senior Syrian officials. "No matter what they do, we will not let them (Americans) rule Lebanon," Wahhab told The Associated Press. The Treasury Department announced Monday it was freezing any assets the four individuals might have in US financial institutions. The action also prohibits any US citizen from engaging in transactions with the four. The measure is part of American attempts to curb Syrian influence in Lebanon.