¡¡¡¡BEIRUT, Dec. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud Thursday denied Israeli allegation that Iraq transported rockets and weapons of mass destruction to Lebanon via Syria, the official NNA news agency reported.

¡¡¡¡Lahoud said, "it is not surprised for Lebanese to hear such rumors from Israel as the Zionist entity has repeatedly done such plot against Lebanon."

¡¡¡¡Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud called Israel's allegation as "utterly unfounded."

¡¡¡¡"Israel will not lose any opportunity to issue rumors and mendacious news concerning the region in order to transfer international focus," Hammoud said.

¡¡¡¡"It is well known that Israel cooperates with the US to realize a war against Iraq. This is just one of its steps," Hammoud added.

¡¡¡¡Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he had information thatIraq secretly transferred weapons of mass destruction to Lebanon via Syria.

¡¡¡¡Sharon claimed that Iraq sent rockets designated for Lebanese resistance guerrilla Hezbollah (Party of God) to retaliate against Israel if the United States begins a war on Iraq. Enditem

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