LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
May 11/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint John 21,20-25.
Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had
also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, "Master, who is the
one who will betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what
about him?" Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come? What
concern is it of yours? You follow me." So the word spread among the brothers
that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not
die, just "What if I want him to remain until I come? (What concern is it of
yours?)"It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them,
and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that
Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the
whole world would contain the books that would be written.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Declaration of war?By: Lucy Fielder.
Al-Ahram Weekly 10/05/08
Look into your heart-Jerusalem
Post 10/05/08
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for May 10/08
Death toll in Lebanon rises to 18 as clashes
intensify across country-Daily
Star
Fear and chaos govern capital city
(Beirut).AFP
Analysts say Lebanon's crisis in perilous new
phase-AFP
Opposition gunmen seize control of Hariri's media
empire-AFP
Fadlallah slams 'improvised government'-Daily
Star
Foreign embassies mull evacuation of citizens
from Lebanon-Daily
Star
Fresh violence halts Beirut's commercial
activity-Daily
Star
Day 3: Hizbullah, Amal take West Beirut-Daily Star
McCain Calls For Pressure On Syria To Cease Lebanon Violence-ABC
News
US Casts Blame on Iran, Syria for Deaths of Innocent in Lebanon-FOXNews
Death toll in Lebanon rises to 18 as clashes intensify across country-Daily
Star
Lebanon conflict Q&A-Telegraph.co.uk
Battle for Beirut-Times Online - UK
Pressure mounts on Siniora to go-GulfNews
International alarm at Hezbollah "coup" in Beirut-Reuters
Reporters Without
Borders: Hezbollah threats force rival party’s news media to close
Hezbollah calls campaign of terror in Lebanon 'liberation'-Ya
Libnan
Lebanon in turmoil as Hezbollah takes west Beirut-AFP
Exclusive: Lebanese army chief defies government as Syria steps in ...DEBKA
file
Hezbollah Gunmen Seize Control of Parts of Lebanon's Capital-Voice
of America
High stakes of Lebanon crisis-BBC News
Hezbollah overruns west Beirut as Lebanon on brink-AFP
Iran accuses US, Israel of provoking Lebanon violence-AFP
Beirut Falling into Hizbullah Hands-Naharnet
World Closely Monitors Lebanon Situation-Naharnet
Hizbullah Fighters Advance in Some Beirut Districts, Occupy MP Ammar Houry's
Residence-Naharnet
Rome Mulling Evacuation of Italians Who Want to Leave Lebanon-Naharnet
Iran Points Finger at U.S. and Israel, Assad Says Lebanon Unrest 'Internal
Matter'-Naharnet
Saudi Calls For Urgent FMs Meeting on Lebanon-Naharnet
EU Calls for End to Lebanon Fighting, Hizbullah's Disruptive Activities-Naharnet
U.N. Security Council Urges Calm in Lebanon-Naharnet
U.S. Concerned over Lebanon: Hizbullah Must End 'Disruptive Activities'-Naharnet
Italy Mulls Reviewing Rules of Engagement for U.N. Troops-Naharnet
U.S. Embassy Advises Citizens to Avoid Airport Road-Naharnet
Roed-Larsen: Hizbullah's Infrastructure is 'Threat to Regional Peace'-Naharnet
Hezbollah must stop "disruptive" acts - White House-Reuters
FACTBOX-Conflict or concessions: scenarios for Lebanon-Reuters
Fighters shut Lebanon TV station-BBC
News
Red Cross says 10 dead in Lebanon fighting-Africasia
Fighting pushing Lebanon toward another civil war-Boston
Globe
CHRONOLOGY-Events in Lebanon since Hariri's killing-Reuters
Death toll in Lebanon rises to 18 as
clashes intensify across country
By Hussein Abdallah -Daily Star staff
Saturday, May 10, 2008
BEIRUT: Seven people were killed and several others wounded on Friday in
fighting between opposition and pro-government supporters in different areas of
Lebanon. The Friday casualties raised the doth toll to 18. Opposition fighters,
their guns blazing, seized control of west Beirut on Friday after three days of
deadly street battles with pro-government foes pushed Lebanon dangerously close
to all-out civil war.
Convoys of triumphant opposition gunmen firing into the air and flashing victory
signs took to the streets after routing militants loyal to the Western-backed
government of the divided nation.
As the fighting eased, the army and police moved across areas now in the hands
of opposition forces.
But as foreigners scrambled to leave it was unclear what the immediate future
would hold, amid fears the protracted political feud could plunge Lebanon back
to the dark days of the 1975-1990 Civil War. Although the guns had largely
fallen silent in the besieged capital, a security official said two opposition
fighters were killed in fighting south of Beirut. "There was a confrontation
between Sunni supporters of the majority bloc and militants loyal to Druze
opposition leader Talal Arslan and two people were killed and two others were
injured," the official said, adding that the fighting was in Aramoun south of
Beirut. Earlier reports said the clashes were in the town of Khaldeh.
The official said those killed were followers of Arslan. Terrified Beirut
residents had cowered inside their homes earlier on Friday as the rattle of
gunfire and the thump of exploding rocket-propelled grenades rang out across the
mainly Muslim west of the city.
In west Beirut, most shops and businesses remained shuttered while tanks rolled
through the streets and hundreds of riot police and troops patrolled the city
but with orders not to intervene in the conflict.
In scenes reminiscent of the 2006 war with Israel, Lebanon was largely cut off
from the outside world, with the airport and Beirut port shut and several key
highways blockaded. Hundreds of people flooded border crossings with Syria to
escape the violence and foreign governments began putting evacuation plans in
place. An airport official said all Friday's flights were cancelled as the main
road from Beirut was barricaded by Hizbullah. "As soon as they open the road,
the flights will resume."Witnesses told of chaos and fear overnight as people
rushed to Beirut stores that remained open to stock up, while others were
trapped in their homes. Meanwhile, security sources told The Daily Star that
Hizbullah militants in the Mount Lebanon Shiite town of Kayfoun have moved to
the Druze-dominated area of Ras al-Jabal in Aley, where they clashed with
supporters of Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt. Three people
were reportedly killed as a result of the clashes. In another development,
security sources told The Daily Star that parliamentary majority leader MP Saad
Hariri has instructed his supporters in the southern port city of Sidon to hand
over all Future Movement offices to the Lebanese Army in a bid to avoid clashes
with opposition supporters.
Also in the Western Bekaa town of Khyara, Future Movement partisans clashed with
supporters of former minister Abdel Rahim Mrad. At least three people were
wounded as a result of the clashes. In another development, security sources
told The Daily Star that Future Movement supporters opened fire at a Baath Party
office in the northern city of Tripoli. The security sources added that
supporters of former Prime Minister Omar Karami, who happened to have an office
close to the Baath Party office, shot back at the Future Movement supporters Two
women were also killed in separate clashes in the southern city of Sidon and Bar
Elias in the Bekaa Valley, security officials said. - With AFP
Cabinet condemns Hezbollah 'coup'
High stakes of Lebanon's crisis
Lebanon's cabinet has said the seizure of most of western Beirut by the Shia
group Hezbollah was "a bloody coup". The Western-backed governing coalition said
it was aimed at increasing Iran's influence and restoring that of Syria. At
least 15 people have been killed in three days of clashes between government and
opposition supporters. Fighting died down later on Friday. Washington restated
its backing for the government, saying that Hezbollah was killing innocent
civilians.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States was committed to
helping the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. "We will stand by the
Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and
provide the support they need to weather this storm," she said in a statement.
The gunmen, who also back Hezbollah's Shia opposition allies, have forced the
closure of pro-government media. The opposition has said Hezbollah and its
allies will maintain roadblocks around Beirut until there is a solution to the
political crisis. But the Lebanese army is now also on the streets protecting
Saad Hariri, a Sunni leader of the governing coalition, and other leading
figures who support the cabinet. The fighting was sparked by a government move
on Monday to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network.
"The armed and bloody coup which is being implemented aims to return Syria to
Lebanon and extend Iran's reach to the Mediterranean," the Lebanese government
said in a statement, after holding an emergency session.
"Violence will not terrorise us, but it will increase our resolve," it said.
Mr Siniora was reportedly holed up with several ministers in his heavily guarded
in central Beirut.
The Lebanese army did not intervene to stop Hezbollah fighters from seizing
large swaths of western Beirut.
The UN Security Council has urged the rival parties to stop fighting amid fears
of civil war breaking out.
Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel,
the two regional powers.
Analysts say the key to avoiding such a conflict this time may be the neutrality
of the army, and its ability to withstand the sectarian tensions.
Political deadlock
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose country long dominated Lebanon, said on
Friday that the political crisis there was an "internal matter".
Having withdrawn its army from the country in 2005, Syria denies meddling in
Lebanon's internal politics.
But Damascus has been accused of involvement in the assassination over the past
three years of several anti-Syrians, including Rafik Hariri, a former prime
minister.
Lebanon has been without a president since late 2007, amid deadlock between the
ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the
government.
Earlier, media offices owned by Saad Hariri were shut after being attacked by
militants loyal to Hezbollah.
The army moved in after gunmen besieged TV station Future News and partially set
fire to the offices of al-Mustaqbal newspaper. Mr Hariri's radio station was
also silenced.
'Save Lebanon from hell'
A compromise was reached for the premises to be taken over and protected by the
Lebanese army at the price of going off the air.
Several Sunni neighbourhoods in western Beirut, considered strongholds of
Lebanon's ruling bloc, have reportedly been over-run by militants from Hezbollah
and its Shia ally Amal. A rocket-propelled grenade hit the fence of the heavily
protected home of Mr Hariri in the Koreitem neighbourhood, officials said.
HAVE YOUR SAY I hope that a return to the catastrophic days of the 70's and 80's
can be avoided
Andy, UKSend us your commentsThe urban warfare has shut down Lebanon's seaport
and all but closed the international airport, with burning barricades on major
roads in Beirut. The BBC's Jim Muir in the city says it all amounts to a
humiliating blow to the government.
It appears to have badly overplayed its hand in moving to close Hezbollah's
telecoms network on Tuesday, he says.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has called the move a "declaration of war".
Mr Hariri said it was a "misunderstanding" and urged gunmen from both sides to
withdraw "to save Lebanon from hell".
Battle for Beirut
The Times/Yet again Lebanon is the cockpit
for wider confrontations
An uneasy calm hung over Beirut yesterday after Shia gunmen seized control of
the mainly Muslim western part of the city from Sunni pro-government supporters.
After three days of fighting, in which at least eleven people died in the
debris-littered streets, the takeover by Hezbollah militants left the Lebanese
capital tense and fearful that this outbreak of violence was only the precursor
of a new civil war pitching militants backed by Syria and Iran against the
elected Government. With the Prime Minister and other Sunni leaders besieged in
their offices, government officials held an emergency meeting in the Christian
heartland, while Saudi Arabia called for an urgent meeting of Arab foreign
ministers to try to end a crisis exacerbating sectarian tensions across the
Middle East.
Tensions have been festering since the Israeli incursion into Lebanon two years
ago. Hezbollah - which led the resistance to Israel - has tried to use its
subsequent brief acclaim to force the pro-Western Government to accept a
dominant role for the organisation in Lebanon. When it failed, it began a
campaign of violence, intimidation and assassination to subvert and overthrow
the Cabinet headed by Fouad Siniora. The latest outbreak was triggered by the
Government's attempt to close down a Hezbollah telephone network set up to
circumvent eavesdropping by Israel and the Lebanese Government. But the weak
Lebanese Army has been reluctant to enforce the law, and Hezbollah and
nationalist pro-Syrian groups seized the chance to attack their rivals.
As often in Lebanon, the conflict is largely a proxy for deeper splits and
tensions across the Middle East. Both Iran and Syria are trying to topple the
Siniora Government. Damascus is still smarting from its forced withdrawal from
Lebanon in 2005 and is determined to halt the Lebanese Government's
investigation into the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former Prime Minister,
who all the evidence suggests was killed on the orders of the Syrian Government.
Iran sees Hezbollah as a vital way of enforcing Shia interests, projecting its
power in the Arab world and preventing any settlement with Israel.
The rest of the Arab world, in particular Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
states, insist that the Siniora Government must not be brought down by force, a
position strongly backed by the West. They fear any extension of Iranian
influence, and are fiercely opposed to any resurgence of Shia power, in Iraq or
elsewhere. They have also been angered by Syria's intransigence, not only over
the Middle East peace process, but in defying world opinion over its meddling in
Lebanon.
Within Lebanon, there is widespread fear that these larger confrontations will
again bring the country to its knees, as happened during the 1975-90 civil war.
Already, residents are leaving, media outlets are being attacked and foreign
governments, including Britain, are issuing travel warnings. For the moment, the
Christians have managed to stay out of the fighting. But they, too, are divided,
especially on relations with Syria. Lebanon must not again be sacrificed. The
outside world, especially the West and the UN, must give unqualified support to
Mr Siniora. The triumphant gunmen patrolling west Beirut must be disarmed and
the city reunited. Any brief Hezbollah victory spells long-term disaster for the
rest of Lebanon and the wider region
Pressure mounts on Siniora to go
Gulf News Report
Published: May 09, 2008,
Dubai: Hezbollah fighters seized control of west Beirut on Friday as three days
of deadly street battles with pro-government forces pushed Lebanon dangerously
close to all-out civil war and mounted pressure on Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
to step down.
As convoys of opposition gunmen firing celebratory shots into the air and
flashing victory signs took to the streets after routing forces loyal to the
Western-backed government, the ruling coalition said Hezbollah's takeover of
west Beirut was an "armed coup" aimed at bringing Syria back into the country
and serving Iran's interests. "The armed and bloody coup which is being
implemented aims to return Syria to Lebanon and extend Iran's reach to the
Mediterranean," the coalition said in a statement read by Christian leader Samir
Geagea.
A senior opposition official strongly denied the charges. "We are not carrying
out a coup - all of this is related to the government's decisions. We are
offering partnership ... and they want to monopolise power and limit our share."
Hariri media outlets shut
The fighting was sparked by a government move on Monday to shut down Hezbollah's
telecom network and sack Beirut airport's security chief. But Youth and Sports
Minister Ahmad Fatfat ruled out any chance of the government going back on its
decision. "It would be easier for the Siniora government to resign than to
revoke its decision," Fatfat told AFP. Security sources said at least 15 people
had been killed and 45 wounded in the three days of battles.
The opposition said it would maintain roadblocks around Beirut until there was a
solution to the political crisis. Hezbollah gunmen also took control of media
outlets owned by governing coalition leader Sa'ad Al Hariri, whose television
and radio stations went off the air.
The United States meanwhile mounted diplomatic efforts to support the embattled
Beirut government. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would be telephoning
leaders in the region, a State Department spokesman told reporters, "to restate
our unswerving commitment and support for the Siniora government".
The White House separately said it was "very troubled" by Hezbollah's actions
and urged Iran and Syria to halt their support for the Lebanese group. "We have
confidence in the government of Lebanon," a White House spokesman told reporters
in Texas.
Exclusive: Lebanese army chief defies government as
Syria steps in to back Hizballah’s conquest of Beirut districts
May 9, 2008,
Shiite gunman in Beirut faces no military resistance
At least 11 people were killed Friday, May 9, Day 3 of fierce clashes between
Hizballah and pro-government forces, the worst since the 1975-90 civil war. At
noon, Syrian Social Nationalist Party’s units entered Beirut to support
Hizballah’s advancing occupation of Sunni West Beirut districts.
DEBKAfile’s Middle East sources report that Thursday night, army chief Gen.
Michel Suleiman refused to obey prime minister Fouad Siniora’s order to declare
a state of emergency for the crisis created by Hizballah’s declaration of war
against the government. The general warned that if the government enacted an
emergency, he would order the troops to return to barracks. The SSNP is a Greek
Orthodox arm of Syrian military intelligence.
Hizballah and fellow Shiite Amal fighters were thus able to seize control of
most of pr-government Sunni West Beirut in clashes that have spread to other
parts of the Lebanon while the government was left unprotected. The urban
warfare shut down Lebanon's port and all but closed the international airport,
with burning barricades on major highways in Beirut. The army has only
interfered in extreme situations. Friday, soldiers rescued the anti-Syrian
majority leader Saad Hariri and allied Druze leader Walid Jumblatt when their
mansions were surrounded and attacked by Shiite forces, but they did not make
the assailants move out. The Lebanese army, half of whose members are Shiites,
thus permitted Hizballah and Amal clinch their control of the Sunni
neighborhoods.
The Lebanese army also took over the pro-government Future TV station and
newspaper owned by Hariri after they were blown up. The army agreed to keep the
station off the air. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the United States,
France and Israel are watching passively as Lebanon falls to Iran’s surrogate
terrorist group Hizballah. Since the 2006 Lebanon war, prime minister Ehud
Olmert has insisted improbably that the conflict had left Hizballah seriously
weakened.
Hizballah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Thursday night that the only way to
stop the violence was for the “black gang” ruling the government to withdraw its
decisions to close his military telecommunications network and restore Hizballah
loyalists to key positions at Beirut international airport.
Beirut Falling into Hizbullah Hands
Hizbullah gunmen took control of large parts of Beirut Friday and forced the
closure of MP Saad Hariri's media outlets in a major confrontation with Prime
Minister Fouad Saniora's government.
At least 11 people were killed and 30 others were wounded in fierce street
battles which broke out in west Beirut on Thursday after Hizbullah chief Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah said a government crackdown on his Iranian-backed group was a
declaration of war.
Among the dead were a woman and her 35-year-old son who were shot in the head.
Gunmen firing rocket-propelled grenades surrounded the headquarters of Hariri's
Future Television and his movement's Al-Mustaqbal newspaper early Friday,
forcing them to close.
Hizbullah gunmen also forced Hariri's Al Sharq radio station to go off the air.
There were reports that one of the floors housing Al Mustaqbal daily was set on
fire.
Security sources, meanwhile, said a rocket hit the outer perimeter of Hariri's
residence in Beirut's Qoreitem district.
"The army is in control of institutions placed under its authority, such as the
media outlets of Al Mustaqbal Movement," the army said.
"It also controls the area around the government headquarters, the central bank,
major roads and the area where Hariri and (Druze leader Walid) Jumblat's
residences are located in west Beirut," the statement added.
Hizbullah gunmen have been gradually seizing offices of pro-government factions
in predominantly Muslim West Beirut since street battles broke out Wednesday.
Hizbullah gunmen, backed by members of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal
movement, have been handing control of the offices to the Lebanese army, which
appeared to be playing a neutral role in the conflict.
Gunfire and the thump of exploding rocket-propelled grenades echoed across west
Beirut, where the fighting was concentrated between Sunni militants loyal to the
government and Shiite opposition gunmen.
The unrest has triggered urgent appeals for calm from the international
community amid fears that a protracted political feud in multi-confessional
Lebanon could plunge the country back to the dark days of the 1975-1990 civil
war.
Many residents of west Beirut were fleeing to seek shelter elsewhere as tanks
rolled through the streets and hundreds of riot police and troops patrolled the
city, but did not get involved in the fighting.
Leaders of Lebanon's ruling coalition have been called to an emergency meeting
while Arab nations are pushing for a special session of foreign ministers to
tackle the crisis. Some states have begun evacuating residents.
"West Beirut plunges into urban warfare," thundered the French newspaper
L'Orient-Le Jour.
Lebanon's already debt-laden economy could also be hard hit, with the enforced
shutdown of the country's only international airport and the Beirut port and
several major highways blocked by burning tires.
Witnesses and AFP correspondents said several Sunni neighborhoods in west Beirut
-- considered bastions of Lebanon's ruling bloc -- had been overrun by Hizbullah
and Amal gunmen.
Fierce gunbattles also raged in the mixed Sunni-Shiite-Christian neighborhood of
Hamra where opposition gunmen also appeared to be gaining ground, AFP
correspondents saw.
"Everyone is running away," said 35-year-old businessman Imad in a west Beirut
neighborhood as people rushed to stores that remained open to stock up, while
others remained trapped in their homes by the fighting.
Armed men were prowling about or hiding in buildings in the otherwise deserted
streets of the capital, but by midday the fighting appeared to have eased.
"It was a hellish night. The armed militants were everywhere shooting all over
the place," said Rima, another west Beirut resident.
Hariri, whose father Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005, had made a
television appeal to try to calm the situation but this was rejected by
Hizbullah.
Air traffic was paralyzed for the third straight day with no flights scheduled
to land or take off from Beirut international airport, an airport official said,
after Hizbullah supporters blocked access with mounds of earth and burning
tires.
Nasrallah delivered his defiant speech on Thursday after the government launched
a probe into a private telecommunications network run by Hizbullah, which
critics say has become a "state within a state."
"The decisions are tantamount to a declaration of war and the start of a war...
on behalf of the United States and Israel," Nasrallah charged. "The hand that
touches the weapons of the resistance will be cut off."
The United States delivered a blunt warning to Hizbullah to stop its "disruptive
activities" while U.N. Security Council members said they were "deeply
concerned" over the crisis, a view reflected by other Arab and European leaders.
The crisis will be the focus of talks between President George Bush and Saniora
in Egypt next week during the U.S. leader's tour of the Middle East.
Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia, which backs the Saniora government, called for
an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers, while Yemen suggested army chief
Michel Suleiman be mandated to chair a dialogue to resolve the crisis.
The long-running political standoff, which first erupted in November 2006 when
six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet, has left the country without a
president since November, when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud stepped down.
While the rival factions have agreed on Suleiman as a consensus candidate, they
disagree on the make-up of the new cabinet and so far 18 sessions of parliament
to choose a president have been cancelled.
"For the entire country, it is now a question of life or death," L'Orient-Le
Jour said. "Nasrallah offered the government no other alternative than a
humiliating retreat or war."(Naharnet-AFP)
Beirut, 09 May 08, 13:20
Rome Mulling Evacuation of Italians Who Want to Leave Lebanon
Rome is drawing up an evacuation plan for Italian nationals who want to flee
fighting in the Lebanese capital, the ANSA news agency reported, quoting new
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
Those who want to leave "can do so, and they will have a national (air) bridge
at their disposal," said Frattini on his first full day in office.
Italy's 2,500 soldiers is the largest contingent in the 13,000-strong U.N.
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which was beefed up in 2006 following the war
between Hizbullah fighters and Israel in southern Lebanon.
Hours after taking the oath of office, Frattini said Italy may rethink the rules
of engagement for its UNIFIL soldiers.(AFP) Beirut, 09 May 08, 15:40
Iran Points Finger at U.S. and Israel, Assad Says Lebanon Unrest 'Internal
Matter'
Iran on Friday accused the United States and Israel of fueling the deadly
fighting in Lebanon between pro- and anti- government fighters.
"Adventurous efforts and interventions by the United States and the Zionist
regime are the main cause of the continuous chaotic situation in Lebanon,"
foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.
"Unfortunately, part of the political plot which was predicted ... has been
executed," said Hosseini, who was quoted by ISNA and Fars news agencies.
"We hope that those who have been responsible for creating this situation exert
the effort needed to restore stability and calm to Lebanon," he added, without
elaborating.
Hosseini said Iran will pursue "tireless efforts ... to help different political
groups reach an understanding."
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -- whose country is Iran's closest regional
ally -- said the unrest was a purely "internal affair" but called for dialogue.
Assad spoke during a meeting with visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa
al-Thani, during which the two shared thoughts "on the regional situation,
particularly in Lebanon," the Syrian state-run news agency, SANA, reported.
Israeli President Shimon Peres on Friday claimed the violence in Lebanon was
fomented by Iran to further what he said was Tehran's goal to control all of the
Middle East.(AFP-Naharnet)
Beirut, 09 May 08, 15:01
Saudi Calls For Urgent FMs Meeting on Lebanon
Saudi Arabia has called for an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers to try
to halt the violence in Lebanon, whose capital was rocked by a third day of
sectarian fighting on Friday.
"In light of the dangerous escalation of the situation on the Lebanese scene,
the kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports holding an urgent and extraordinary meeting
of the Arab League ministerial council in Cairo to discuss the Lebanese crisis
and its fallout," a foreign ministry official was quoted by the state SPA news
agency as saying.
The call was issued overnight as Lebanon teetered on the brink of civil war with
the capital wracked by fighting between Hizbullah fighters and pro-government
gunmen loyal to the Western-backed government, which is also supported by Saudi
Arabia.(AFP) Beirut, 09 May 08, 11:01
EU Calls for End to Lebanon Fighting, Hizbullah's Disruptive Activities
The European Union called late Thursday for an end to the violence in Beirut and
for the Hizbullah-led opposition to halt all disruptive activities.
"The EU Presidency deeply regrets that violence has erupted in Beirut today,"
said a statement from the presidency.
"The Presidency calls upon the parties to cease immediately these riots, stop
siege of the roads, open the airport and refrain from any further violent acts."
It continued: "We urge the opposition led by Hizbullah to stop all disruptive
activities and start playing a constructive role in the country.
"We believe that the parties will solve the crisis only by peaceful means and
preserve sovereign, stable and independent Lebanon."(AFP)
Beirut, 09 May 08, 08:56
World Closely Monitors Lebanon Situation
The international community was closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon
after deadly clashes between opposition and pro-government supporters turned
Beirut into a war zone.
The French foreign ministry said it was monitoring the situation out of concern
for French nationals, while the United Arab Emirates began evacuating its
nationals from Beirut on Thursday.
"Some Emirati nationals in Beirut have been evacuated to ensure their security,"
UAE Ambassador Mohammed Sultan al-Suweidi was quoted as saying by the official
Wam news agency.
The report said the evacuees had been flown to Damascus, but gave no details
about the number of people involved.
Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier placed the blame squarely on Hizbullah
and said the situation was being closely monitored by Canadian authorities who
were in contact with nationals in Lebanon.
"Canada strongly condemns the actions of Hizbullah to incite violence and to
shut down the international airport in Beirut. These actions serve only to
inflame sectarian divisions. Hizbullah and its supporters must not be allowed to
pull Lebanon toward war," Bernier said.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 09 May 08, 08:46
FACTBOX: Facts about Lebanon's
Hezbollah
Fri May 9, 2008
Reuters - Following are facts about Lebanese group Hezbollah, whose fighters
took control of the Muslim part of Beirut on Friday.
HISTORY
* Hezbollah, meaning "Party of God" in Arabic, shares the Shi'ite Islamist
ideology of the Iranian state and was set up by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in
1982 to fight Israeli forces that had invaded Lebanon. Hezbollah still has
strong support from Tehran. It is also backed by Damascus. The group is listed
as a terrorist organization by the United States.
* The group fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006 that killed 1,200 people in
Lebanon and 159 in Israel. Despite U.N. resolutions and an expanded peaceforce,
Hezbollah has rearmed since. It had also waged a military campaign against
Israeli forces which occupied mainly Shi'ite south Lebanon until their
withdrawal in 2000.
* Shadowy groups linked to Hezbollah launched suicide attacks on Western targets
and took Westerners hostage in Beirut in the 1980s. The most spectacular attack
was a suicide bombing that destroyed the U.S. Marine headquarters in Beirut in
October 1983, killing 241 servicemen. One of the groups, Islamic Jihad, was
thought to be led by Imad Moughniyah, who was Hezbollah's military commander
when he was assassinated on February 13 in Syria.
HEZBOLLAH TODAY
* It is both a political movement and a guerrilla army. It draws its support
from among Lebanon's Shi'ite Muslim population and has more influence in that
community than any other Shi'ite faction.
* Hezbollah entered Lebanese politics more visibly in 2005 after Syrian troops
were forced to leave the country and a coalition of anti-Damascus factions took
control of government. The group had two ministers in the cabinet of Prime
Minister Fouad Siniora until they quit in November 2006 in protest at the
governing coalition's refusal to give the opposition effective veto power in
cabinet. The group has 14 MPs.
* The group has led an opposition alliance against Siniora's government for 17
months. Its allies include the Shi'ite Amal movement and Christian leader Michel
Aoun. Continued...
Hezbollah is by far the most dominant military force in Lebanon, stronger than
any other faction and the country's army. It says its arsenal is crucial for
defending Lebanon from Israel and will only consider giving it up as part of a
national defense strategy.
* U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, sponsored by the United States and
France and adopted in September 2004, called for all Lebanese militias to be
disbanded and disarmed. Hezbollah, the only such militia, is still defying the
resolution.
* Hezbollah had long stated that its weapons are only for use against Israel.
But its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on May 8 said in public for the first
time that the group is prepared to use its guns against domestic foes in the
face of a threat to its arsenal.
(Writing by Tom Perry in Beirut)
Reporters Without Borders
Press release
9 May 2008
LEBANON
Hezbollah threats force rival party’s news media to close
Reporters Without Borders condemns Hezbollah’s armed attacks and threats against
four news media owned by the family of Saad Hariri, the head of Future Movement,
the anti-Syrian majority party in the Lebanese parliament.
All four news media – the terrestrial and satellite TV station Future TV,
satellite TV news channel Future News, the daily newspaper Al-Mustakbal and
Radio Orient – were forced to stop operating today.
“Lebanon is undergoing a serious political crisis and the situation is very
disturbing,” the press freedom organisation said. “We hope the gagging of the
anti-Syrian parliamentary majority’s news media is not a harbinger of even
greater violence. The aggressiveness displayed by Hezbollah militants poses an
additional danger for the many journalists covering the clashes on the streets
of Beirut. We urge Hezbollah to refrain from attacks on the press.”
Rockets were fired early this morning at Al-Mustakbal’s headquarters, starting a
fire on one of its floors. Soon afterwards, gunmen surrounded the offices of
Future TV, Future News and Radio Orient and threatened to open fire if they did
not stop broadcasting. Witnesses said Hezbollah militiamen disabled their video
surveillance systems and then disconnected their broadcast cables. Lebanese army
soldiers protected employees as they left they buildings to go home.
There have been clashes between Hezbollah militiamen and supporters of the
anti-Syrian majority for more than 24 hours in several west Beirut
neighbourhoods.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporters sans frontières
Communiqué de presse
9 mai 2008
LIBAN
Le Hezbollah ferme sous la menace les médias de ses adversaires
Reporters sans frontières condamne les attaques du Hezbollah à l’encontre de
quatre médias appartenant à la famille de Saad Hariri, dirigeant du “Courant du
futur” (majorité parlementaire anti-syrienne). Le 9 mai 2008, la chaîne
terrestre et satellitaire Future TV, la chaîne d’information satellitaire Future
News, le quotidien Al-Moustakbal et la station Radio Orient ont cessé d’émettre
sous la menace de miliciens du Hezbollah.
“La situation au Liban est très inquiétante. Alors que le pays traverse une
grave crise politique, nous espérons que le muselage des médias de la majorité
parlementaire anti-syrienne n’est pas le signe avant-coureur de plus grandes
violences. Par ailleurs, l’agressivité démontrée par les militants du Hezbollah
est un danger supplémentaire pour les nombreux journalistes qui couvrent les
affrontements dans les rues de Beyrouth. Nous appelons le Hezbollah à
s’interdire de s’en prendre à la presse”, a déclaré l’organisation.
Le 9 mai 2008, tôt dans la matinée, des roquettes ont été lancées contre le
siège du quotidien Al-Moustakbal, mettant le feu à un étage du bâtiment. Peu
après, les locaux de Future TV, Future News et Radio Orient ont été encerclés
par des hommes armées qui ont menacé de tirer si la diffusion des programmes se
poursuivaient. Selon des témoins, des miliciens du Hezbollah ont neutralisé le
dispositif de surveillance vidéo avant de couper les câbles de diffusion.
L’armée libanaise a assuré la sécurité des employés pendant qu’ils quittaient
leurs bureaux pour rentrer chez eux.
Depuis plus de 24 heures, plusieurs quartiers de l’ouest de Beyrouth sont
devenus le théâtre d’affrontements entre les miliciens du Hezbollah et les
partisans de la majorité anti-syrienne.
Hajar Smouni
Bureau Afrique du Nord & Moyen-Orient / North Africa & Middle-East Desk
Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders
47 rue Vivienne
F - 75002 Paris
Tél : + 33 1 44 83 84 78
Fax : +33 1 45 23 11 51
E-mail : moyen-orient@rsf.org / middle-east@rsf.org
http://www.rsf.org
Ayoon wa Azan (The Solution
Will Not Fall from the Sky )
Jihad el Khazen Al Hayat - 09/05/08//
http://english.daralhayat.com/opinion/OPED/05-2008/Article-20080509-ce3e6b3f-c0a8-10ed-01e2-5c73d9267482/story.html
Yesterday, 2000 miles away in London, I saw and
heard on TV what was happening in Beirut. I beheld developments reminiscent of
the 1975 period.
I do not want to put myself in a position where I would be forced to choose
between the government, the Lebanese legitimacy, and Hezbollah, the resistance.
If I had to choose, I would stand by the legitimacy and the resistance alike.
However, I feel that the Lebanese citizen's choices are limited, if not
non-existent.
I was a supporter of the resistance against Israel. I still am today, and will
be tomorrow, period! However, I have something to complain about.
I am writing this article prior to Hassan Nassrallah's scheduled press
conference. If I were to give him an advice or ask him for a favor, I would urge
him to reassure the Lebanese about their future, to assert that Hezbollah was
not a State within a State, that it did not want that role in the first place,
and that the conflict was of political nature not a prelude to another civil war
or a war between Sunnis and Shiites in particular.
The recent explosion was not instantaneous: The mutual stubbornness must have
convinced the opposition that it would not achieve its demands through sit-ins,
hence the escalation. However, in my opinion, the escalation will not do any
good, because it will be mutual. Lebanon's modern history has but one lesson to
offer: The intestinal wars in Lebanon cannot end with a winner and a loser.
After the sit-in in downtown Beirut, Nassrallah promised his supporters a second
(divine) victory, as I recall. General Michael Aoun also warned the ministers
that they would not have time to collect their papers before leaving their
offices. Yet, this did not happen. Hezbollah must look for a solution, because
the destruction of the country, after the destruction of the commercial souks,
is not in his or anyone's interest.
We all make mistakes. But most importantly, we must not stubbornly stick to
them. Yesterday's demonstrators and rioters and the protesters before them must
have realized, from the start, that their challenge, which took the form of a
confrontation with the Serail, was perceived as a confrontation between a
Shiite-led opposition and a Sunni-led government. I heard Sunni leaders complain
in private meetings that Shiites were trying to rob them of what they had gained
in the Taef Accord.
Yesterday, Tariq el Jdideh, Basta and Msaitbeh were the scene of shooting and
friction. Is this how the street translates the political competition between
the two Muslim confessions? Who guarantees that an unintentional spark will not
ignite another war?
Ever since Emile Lahoud left the presidential palace at the end of his term, we
lost a middle point in the confrontation between the two parties to the
conflict. General Aoun could have filled that gap and built bridges between the
two parties. However, he favored extremism. As a result, the language of
dialogue faltered amidst accusations of treason and attempts to dictate
solutions. At a time when bones of contention piled up, the original discussion
was about the resistance, its weapons and the international tribunal. Now, we
are talking about the president (and tomorrow about the Army Commander if the
situation persists as it is till fall), a national unity government, an election
law and the airport's highway even.
Undoubtedly, Hassan Nassrallah is one of the smartest leaders. I know that he
cannot and does not want to exit his coalition with Iran through Syria. However,
he can ease the hardships of many Lebanese who are harmed by the sit-in for no
wrongdoing committed on their part. I know that Fouad Siniora is one of the most
patient Lebanese persons, but patience is a virtue and not a solution. Perhaps
the government failed to reach mutually agreed upon common denominators with
Hezbollah. Perhaps the superior authoritative language adopted by some Hezbollah
officials scared away the government and its supporters (I did an Arabic test
for Amro Moussa and he passed with flying colors. Perhaps the MP who advised him
to learn Arabic made a mistake and wanted him to learn Persian).
I do not know the solutions, but I know how they are aborted. The rupture
between the two parties to the conflict is the height of negativity, only if we
assume that solutions are possible in the first place! There has been a time
when Nassrallah was in constant contact with Rafic Hariri, exchanging ideas and
solving problems. Today, all dialogue channels are closed between Nassrallah and
Saad Hariri. The meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri is itself in need of a
dialogue, before reaching the other dialogue.
In other words, if one side in Lebanon thinks he can impose his stance on the
other, then this will not only be bad politics but suicidal politics or madness,
whose price will be borne by the party that risks the future of his country,
along with the whole country.
Once again, I will always support Hezbollah (and Syria too) against Israel.
However, I find that Hezbollah is more skilled in resistance than in politics. I
also warn the government that patience alone does not mean a thing: The solution
will not fall from the sky or come from any country on Earth. It starts among
the Lebanese, and then the others will help make it work
.