LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - The White House on Thursday denied a media report that the United States is softening its stance on Hezbollah and trying to pull the Lebanese Shiite organization into the political mainstream.
"The report suggests that our view has changed on Hezbollah, and it has not," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters travelling here with US President George W. Bush. "It's wrong."
At the same time, McClellan did not repeat Washington's longstanding charge that the group, which drew hundreds of thousands into the streets of Beirut in a pro-Syria demonstration this week, is a terrorist organization.
"Our view on Hezbollah has not changed," he said.
"Our focus remains on working with the international community to make sure that Syria gets out of Lebanon, so that the parliamentary elections in May can proceed forward in a free and fair way," said McClellan.
"We want to see free and fair elections, without outside intimidation and outside interference. And we want all Lebanese people, from all walks of life, to participate in those elections," he said.
"I think that experience shows that when people are able to choose their leaders, they choose people who are committed to improving their lives, not terrorists," said McClellan.
The New York Times had reported earlier that the United States was grudgingly moving into line with efforts by France and the United Nations to get the Shiite group into the Lebanese political mainstream.
03/10/2005 18:09 GMT