McCain leaves Lebanon, heads for Libya

US Senate Armed Forces Committee member, Senator John McCain clarified Friday that he did not mean Lebanon when he spoke of establishing a buffer zone for the Free Syrian Army; however, he meant that this zone should be established in Turkey or Jordan. He stressed that the Free Syrian Army needs a safe haven, but not in Lebanon.               

Following his meeting with PSP leader, MP Walid Jumblatt, McCain said that he is convinced that Syrian President Bashar Assad will leave the power without our help, but this process will take time.                     

In turn, Jumblatt noted that “this is not the first visit for McCain, and it will not be his last”, adding that “he is the one who defended Lebanon’s independence and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and supported the Syrian people’s right to live in dignity”.                

McCain and his accompanying delegation left Beirut on Friday afternoon, heading to Libya on board a private US jet.            

Bidding them farewell at International Rafic Hariri Airport has been US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelli.