Harper names Liberal MP as Mideast adviser

Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has accepted an offer from a Liberal MP to advise the government on South Asia and the Middle East.

Harper announced Tuesday that Wajid Khan,the MP for Mississauga-Streetsville, near Toronto, will become special adviser, travelling to the two regions "in the coming weeks" and preparing a "report on medium and long-term opportunities to further Canadian engagement there in early October."

"My intent essentially is to travel the region and bring forward a report that will help the prime minister," Khan said.

Khan said he offered his services to Harper.He later said interim Liberal leader Bill Graham approved the plan.

"The way I talked to [Graham], he just couldn't say no because he understands my passion, he understands what the international situation is," said Khan.

Khan's trip means at least fourMPs will be travellingto hot spots this fall.

ThreeMPS, representing the Conservatives, Liberals and the NDP, are set toleave for the Middle East next week on a fact-finding mission organized by the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations. The Bloc Québécois says it will send a representative only if there's a peace deal in Lebanon.

"We want them to have the discussions with different players in Lebanon, a broader discussion, and see the broader impact of the conflict on Lebanon," said Mazen Chouaib of the council.

The MPs, including ToryDean Del Mastro, LiberalBorys Wrzesnewskyj and an NDP member,are scheduled to visit Egypt, Syria and Lebanon.

Chouaib said the council is talking to the Department of Foreign Affairs to assess the risks.

Hezbollah flags focus of dispute

The MPs' trips come as Canadians are becoming more involved in the Lebanese situation. On Tuesday, Yair Goldwasser, the brother of an Israeli soldier captured by Hezbollah, was in Toronto as part of the launch of a Jewish group's fundraising campaign to help Israelis threatened by Hezbollah rockets.

Hezbollah has beenofficially classedas a terrorist group in Canada since 2002, and isbanned, making it a crime to join or give it material support.

Yet many Lebanese- and Arab-Canadians are openly declaring their support for the group, which they see as protecting their homeland.

Now B'nai Brithwants police to crack down on Hezbollah supporters by arresting people who fly the group's flags at protests,which has occurred across Canada in recent weeks.

"I've got a message to them. They are making an open statement. I'd suggest to them they are being watched," said B'nai Brith lawyer Anita Bromberg.

Wrzesnewskyj said that the MPs should meetbackersand members of the political wing of Hezbollah because they are players in any peace deal in Lebanon.