Turkey denies supporting anti-government protests in northern Lebanon

Turkey on Tuesday denounced allegations made by Lebanese politicians that it was supporting anti-government protests in northern Lebanon in order to expand its influence in the region.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy called the claims "malicious statements" that said they were "deprived of comprehension" and impossible to take seriously.

Aksoy added that said Turkey strongly supports Lebanon's  unity and integrity, as well as its peace and stability.

"Those who make these allegations are in a position to know very well who sees Lebanon as its backyard and interferes with the internal affairs of this country," Aksoy added.

The statement seems to be in response to claims made in a TV interview, and later in a tweet, by the leader of Lebanon's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and former foreign minister Gebran Bassil.

Bassil tweeted on Monday that Lebanon's relationship with Turkey is important but implied that Ankara is undertaking "political, financial, and security expansion" in the country and accused it of "sowing sedition".

Local media had reported that Turkish officials allegedly made secret payments to Sunni leaders in northern Lebanon, in what critics say is an attempt by Ankara to gain support and influence along sectarian lines, amid Lebanon's worst economic crisis in decades.

None of these claims have been verified.