Barrack reportedly threatens Lebanese with sanctions over corruption

During his latest visit to Beirut, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack expressed Washington’s concern that “Lebanon might again drown in the same previous policies” in the conduct of both its government and parliament, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted an informed source as saying.

One of those who met with Barrack said the latter tackled the era of former Central Bank governor Riad Salameh and said “Washington does not want to revisit past issues nor to hold accountable all those who were responsible for that period,” the source added.

Washington has however decided to “put everyone under constant scrutiny” and “should it sense that top officials have resumed the same policies, whether they are officials, politicians or bankers, there will be a surprise for the Lebanese, seeing as sanctions will be imposed on a lot of those whom the Lebanese people hope to see punished,” the source said.