Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Tuesday said Iran's support for what he called "Hizbullah's coup" in Lebanon will affect Tehran's relations with Arab and Islamic countries. According to the AP, Prince Saud al-Faisal has called on all Mideast countries to respect Lebanon's independence and refrain from stoking sectarian tensions in the country. "The kingdom calls again upon all regional parties to respect Lebanon's soverignty and independence, and to stop meddling in its internal affairs and poking sectarian unrest," he said.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said al-Faisal 's claims of Iranian support for Hizbullah's recent actions in Lebanon were made in anger. According to Ahmadinejad, the Saudi Foreign Minister was not following the orders of Saudi King Abdullah. The Iranian leader conveyed Iran is the only country that does not interfere in Lebanon's internal affairs.

© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)