BEIRUT: Lebanon's senior Shiite cleric, Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, lashed out at the "flagrant" US interference in ths country's internal affairs on Friday, while also condemning the US-led Annapolis Middle East peace conference. In his weekly Friday sermon delivered from the Imam Hassanayn Mosque in Haret Hreik, Fadlallah said the US "only respects its strategic interests."

"The US wants Lebanon and its presidency, government, army and the political group supporting it to serve its projects [in the region]," he said.

"All the Lebanese," he said, "should pay attention to statements made by the US ambassador [Jeffrey Feltman] and his flagrant interference in Lebanon's domestic affairs when it comes to the presidential elections and other issues."

"This is part of the US official political strategy to impose its tutelage on Lebanon," he added.

Commenting on the Annapolis peace conference held earlier this week, Fadlallah said the meeting was not meant to achieve peace for the Arabs and Palestinians but "an opportunity for President George W. Bush to present himself as a president working in favor of peace."

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