No basis to Hezbollah claims in Syria?

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- A U.N. agency dismissed allegations it had claimed Hezbollah was involved in the Syrian unrest after the Shiite resistance cried foul.

Al-Arabiya, citing Radio France, claimed the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees was set to release a report accusing Syrian ally Hezbollah of killing Syrian army defectors.

Hezbollah denied the allegations, saying the report was part of an effort to discredit the group.

Hezbollah had called on the U.N. agency to be "credible."

Lebanese media, which picked up the al-Arabiya report, had said the Iranian military was likely involved in the Syrian unrest as well.

The UNHCR, Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reported, said the allegations it was making claims on Hezbollah were baseless.

"The UNHCR has categorically denied the information published on the Web site of Al-Arabiya news channel on Aug. 5 quoting French sources and attributing inaccurate statements to UNHCR," a statement read.

Hezbollah was quoted by the Lebanese newspaper as saying it has issued "many statements" denying it played a role in the Syrian crackdown.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/08/10/No-basis-to-Hezbollah-claims-in-Syria/UPI-98231312985896/.