Sayhey
Nov 3, 2006, 10:02 PM
Some of us warned of the dangers represented by a stronger and more popular Hizbullah in the wake of the Israeli invasion. Now we are seeing the very real moves by Nasrallah to force the Lebanese government to accept a larger stake in the government and veto over its policies.
Geagea Urges March 14 Forces to Get Ready for Peaceful Rally, Saudi Intervention to Resolve Crisis
The March 14 coalition has allegedly stressed that it will not succumb to Hizbullah demands to replace or expand Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet, as Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged the anti-Syrian camp to rally peacefully.
In the meantime, Saudi diplomats were secretly negotiating with political forces to agree on a unity government.
Saudi Arabia "is making discreet contacts and holding talks, primarily though its ambassador in Lebanon Abdel Aziz Khuja, to placate the political situation in Lebanon," Arab diplomatic sources in Bahrain said Thursday.
The sources said that the kingdom was also working to "remove barriers to holding national dialogue talks" as called for by Speaker Nabih Berri.
The leading An-Nahar daily said Friday that the March 14 Forces will "no way agree to any expansion or replacement of the government … the consultation session will only tackle a package deal starting with the replacement of the president."
The anti-Syrian majority demands the departure of President Emile Lahoud whose mandate was controversially extended for another three years in 2004, in accordance with Damascus's wishes.
Berri has set November 6 for the resumption of the stalled national dialogue across Lebanon's rival leaders in a bid to drag the country out of its political impasse.
"The replacement or the expansion of the government means the power will be turned in to Syria and Iran; and this is something utterly rejected by the majority forces," An-Nahar quoted a source close to the March 14 camp as saying.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned of street protests if Saniora did not accept his group's demands and a national unity government, in which Hizbullah and its allies would have a veto on key decisions. Nasrallah set a deadline of Nov. 13.
In a Thursday night interview with the Lebanese New TV channel, Geagea called on the March 14 Forces to "get ready for a new quiet, peaceful and arrogant rally to prove that we are the majority."
Geagea also ruled out the formation of a national unity government. But he said the inclusion of Gen. Michel Aoun's bloc in the cabinet was "negotiable … but (the demand) to activate the paralyzed one-third (of the cabinet) is totally rejected."
Nasrallah has said that Hizbullah and its allies should comprise one-third of the 24-member cabinet. That effectively means the Shiite party and allies could veto key decisions. A two-thirds vote in the cabinet is needed to pass decisions that are not made by consensus. A resignation of one-third of the cabinet automatically brings down the government.
Geagea warned that if street protests turn into riots "we will be there to back up the (Lebanese) security forces anywhere and we put ourselves under their command." He refused to elaborate.(Naharnet-AFP)
Beirut, 03 Nov 06, 10:45Naharnet (http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/Newsdesk.nsf)
Geagea Urges March 14 Forces to Get Ready for Peaceful Rally, Saudi Intervention to Resolve Crisis
The March 14 coalition has allegedly stressed that it will not succumb to Hizbullah demands to replace or expand Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet, as Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged the anti-Syrian camp to rally peacefully.
In the meantime, Saudi diplomats were secretly negotiating with political forces to agree on a unity government.
Saudi Arabia "is making discreet contacts and holding talks, primarily though its ambassador in Lebanon Abdel Aziz Khuja, to placate the political situation in Lebanon," Arab diplomatic sources in Bahrain said Thursday.
The sources said that the kingdom was also working to "remove barriers to holding national dialogue talks" as called for by Speaker Nabih Berri.
The leading An-Nahar daily said Friday that the March 14 Forces will "no way agree to any expansion or replacement of the government … the consultation session will only tackle a package deal starting with the replacement of the president."
The anti-Syrian majority demands the departure of President Emile Lahoud whose mandate was controversially extended for another three years in 2004, in accordance with Damascus's wishes.
Berri has set November 6 for the resumption of the stalled national dialogue across Lebanon's rival leaders in a bid to drag the country out of its political impasse.
"The replacement or the expansion of the government means the power will be turned in to Syria and Iran; and this is something utterly rejected by the majority forces," An-Nahar quoted a source close to the March 14 camp as saying.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned of street protests if Saniora did not accept his group's demands and a national unity government, in which Hizbullah and its allies would have a veto on key decisions. Nasrallah set a deadline of Nov. 13.
In a Thursday night interview with the Lebanese New TV channel, Geagea called on the March 14 Forces to "get ready for a new quiet, peaceful and arrogant rally to prove that we are the majority."
Geagea also ruled out the formation of a national unity government. But he said the inclusion of Gen. Michel Aoun's bloc in the cabinet was "negotiable … but (the demand) to activate the paralyzed one-third (of the cabinet) is totally rejected."
Nasrallah has said that Hizbullah and its allies should comprise one-third of the 24-member cabinet. That effectively means the Shiite party and allies could veto key decisions. A two-thirds vote in the cabinet is needed to pass decisions that are not made by consensus. A resignation of one-third of the cabinet automatically brings down the government.
Geagea warned that if street protests turn into riots "we will be there to back up the (Lebanese) security forces anywhere and we put ourselves under their command." He refused to elaborate.(Naharnet-AFP)
Beirut, 03 Nov 06, 10:45Naharnet (http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/Newsdesk.nsf)
