LCCC NEWS BULLETINS
FEBRUARY 8/2006

Below News From Miscellaneous Sources for 8.2.06
Lebanon arrests five for army barracks attack-Reuters 8.2.06
March 14 Alliance Accuses Syria of Plotting to Ignite Iraq-Like Civil Strife in Lebanon-Naharnet

Below News from the Daily Star for 8/2/06
Franjieh slams Al-Qaeda training charges Fatfat: ISF lacks men and equipment to face riots
Dakkash visits Jumblatt to garner further support
Ministry looking into international court options
Hamas victory won't affect UNRWA's work
Former minister charges government with complicity in weekend riots
Watt praises response of officials and clerics to riots
FPM-Hizbullah understanding fails to draw reaction from March 14 Forces
Riot fears may stifle turnout at Hariri commemoration
Nasrallah and Aoun show that a little bit of work makes a world of difference
A Hamas victory and the lessons to be learned-By Bouthaina Shaaban

Nasrallah and Aoun show that a little bit of work makes a world of difference
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Editorial-Daily Star
On Monday, while Lebanon's March 14 Forces were busy huddling among themselves in Beirut, a groundbreaking meeting, which saw two ideologically different parties reaching out to one another, was taking place in a small church in the southern suburbs of the city. Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun were holding their first-ever meeting at the Mar Mikhail Church in Shiyah. After hours of negotiation, the two parties issued a joint statement in which they proposed solutions to a number of extremely sensitive issues. They agreed, among other things, that Hizbullah should have the right to bear arms as long as there is occupied Lebanese territory, and that both parties will work to free Lebanese detainees from Syrian prisons and to allow the return of former South Lebanese Army members from exile in Israel.
The meeting marked a dramatic departure from the norm in Lebanese politics: Two unallied political parties actually met face to face, put shoulder to wheel and, through their efforts, were able to reach agreement on thorny issues. Indeed, the landmark meeting came only after both parties had done a considerable amount of homework, involving a lengthy series of preparatory meetings between their representatives. Although one can disagree with or criticize the content of their accord, one cannot dispute the fact that the two parties did their homework and that their agreements were born out of good old-fashioned effort. If only Lebanon's formal government institutions operated in a similar manner.
Ironically, on the same day that Aoun and Nasrallah were holding their landmark meeting, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was talking about dialogue in Parliament. Berri convened a seminar on "The Role of Parliaments in National Dialogue," in which the speaker praised the positive role that parliaments can play in promoting public discussion. Citing formerly conflict-ridden countries such as Sierra Leone, Argentina, Chile, Rwanda, Kosovo and Northern Ireland, Berri said that in many states parliaments have have been an instrumental force in promoting national reconciliation.
Berri has already put forth an initiative to start a national dialogue in Lebanon's Parliament. But while there has been much talk of holding a national dialogue, there has been little effort to actually start one. And while Berri, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri and others have been busy talking about dialogue, Nasrallah and Aoun have actually achieved it.

A Hamas victory and the lessons to be learned
West should acknowledge legitimate win
By Bouthaina Shaaban -Wednesday, February 08, 2006
I tried to imagine how the European and American public would feel about Hamas winning the elections. International politics and media have always pictured Hamas as a "terrorist movement"; not a very surprising stigma, given its animosity for the state of Israel.
As soon as the election results became public, the majority of American and European officials seemed oblivious of their own preaching about "democracy," "independence" and "freedom" in the Middle East. They immediately indulged in a series of threats starting with cutting off "aid" to the Palestinian people.
How could anyone who wakes up to the morning news in a Western democracy understand this paradox between the "international will" and the "will of the people"? The victory of Hamas is only one example of the historic relationship between the West and the Arab people. It is living proof of the confused Western policies toward the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Israeli occupation of Arab lands.
The American and European threats that preceded Hamas' participation in the Palestinian elections are based on a preconceived perception of Hamas as threatening to the security of Israel. In reality, it is Israel, the only nuclear state in the Middle East, who undercuts any shape of Palestinian security on a daily basis.
Israel occupies Palestinian and Arab lands. Israel terrorizes Palestinians on a daily basis. Israel, unquestioned, regularly assassinates Palestinian political leaders, men, women and children, on basis of suspicion. Israel demolishes Palestinian houses, displaces Palestinians and confiscates their lands as suits its interests. Yet, the West calls Hamas a "terrorist movement."
For long decades, Israeli aggression has gone unchecked, financed by the West and supported by Western silence. Since 1967, Israel has displaced millions of Palestinians and appropriated the most fertile lands in the West Bank. The ideological state of Israel denies Palestinians their most basic human rights. Palestinians can't even pray at Al-Aqsa if Israel decides they should not. Yet, both the United States and Europe accuse Hamas of extremism.
After Hamas' overwhelming victory, the American and European leaders embarked on a daily preaching for the group unconditionally to renounce "violence" and "disarm." It might be enlightening to remember that the IRA ceased armed resistance only after an agreement was reached and not before.
It is quite puzzling that the democracy sought by the West in the Middle East is conditional. It is only the kind of democracy that brings to power like elements. And even then, the Oslo Palestinian participants were deemed to be "cooperating" only as long as they continued to meet Western and Israeli demands; otherwise they were threatened with isolation.
It is not news to talk about the century-old Western politics in the Middle East based on conceit and self-serving understanding. For decades the West has been supporting oppressors and dictators who do not represent the public will, as long as these despots safeguarded Western interests. This is a very important trait in the West-Arab relations that undermines peace, freedom and democracy.
One of the lessons learned from the victory of Hamas is that the West does not want the Palestinians to "democratically" express their will. Queuing for the camera next to the voting boxes is "democracy" only so long as the polls anoint the party previously chosen by the Israeli state.
Another lesson is a Western fallback into a total media blackout about the "democratic process" that brought Hamas to power. No one talks any longer about the "open and competitive" election process, described by Veronik Di Caiser, head of the European election observing team. No one mentions how the elections were carried out "freely and correctly" in spite of the "harsh restrictions imposed by Israel."
Another lesson to remember is what ex-president Jimmy Carter himself said in a press conference. The party listed as terrorist by Americans and Europeans actually "runs" local politics "well," Carter said. Furthermore, it is "not involved in any form of corruption."
The most important lesson we can learn from the Hamas victory is that the West's biased policies are doomed to failure. Those labeled by the West as terrorist movements happen to represent the public longing for freedom, peace and democracy. This Western denial of true peace and democracy based on international legitimacy and the public will can only serve to prolong the cycle of violence the West claims to oppose.
Such erroneous American diplomacy campaigns in the Arab and Muslim world is futile. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's decision to increase the number of American diplomats in Asia and make them more "proactive" than conventional is only reminiscent of their colonizing predecessors. The only way toward enduring "peace" and "democracy" is through just solutions that acknowledge the rights of the people.

Franjieh slams Al-Qaeda training charges
By Nada Bakri -Special to The Daily Star
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
BEIRUT: Former Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh dismissed allegations by the March 14 Forces that he is sponsoring military training camps for Al-Qaeda in the North, countering with his own accusations the coalition had organized and financed Sunday's riots in the capital. In a news conference held Tuesday, Franjieh asked the government for an investigation into Sunday's riots and defied politicians to call for a financial investigation into the near $40 billion debt accumulated since 1990.
"We ask the government to investigate Sunday's riots. They can accuse us of training Marada Party members, but Al-Qaeda members, that is very ironic. However, we put ourselves in the hands of the Judiciary that they appointed and let them investigate the issue." The Marada Party is headed by Franjieh. "We ask the parliamentary committees formed by the parliamentary majority to investigate the issue and let's see where the alleged 1,000 Al-Qaeda members we are training are, and why they weren't arrested yet," he said.
Franjieh added that the March 14 Forces were responsible for Sunday's riots and had provided demonstrators with transportation to the rally.
"On Sunday morning they kept repeating on different television channels these protesters belong to the March 14 camp and that they should not be attacked by security forces, and in the afternoon they changed their story, saying these protesters are Syrians or belong to the Salafi organization," Franjieh added. The Salafi group is a radical Islamist organization. Franjieh further described anti-Syrian politicians who held a meeting on Monday at the Clemenceau residence of MP Walid Jumblatt, who was not present for the meeting, as the "leftovers of March 14," and the March 14 forces as "tools who were rejected by their people and do not exist in the political scene from our point of view."
He also accused Tripoli MP Bassem Jisr of handing FPM member Bassam Agha a $130,000 check three days before the latter announced his resignation from the party.
Franjieh later withdrew the charge after Jisr said the check had been forged and the Judiciary is investigating the matter.
Asked to comment on the March 14 meeting that took place on Monday between Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and FPM leader Michel Aoun, Franjieh said: "The first meeting lacks respect, while the second was of a different and higher level. Comparing the two meetings is like comparing [Lebanese pop singer] Hayfa Wehbe to [Zghorta MP] Nayla Mouawad."
Franjieh, a former Zghorta MP, rejected accusations he and his allies were attempting to overthrow the government, and accused Michel Mouawad, son of Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad, "of being a professio-nal in organizing coups d'etat."Franjieh accused the young Mouwad of involvement in organizing a coup d'etat against the president of Guinea Equator. Holding a news conference of his own to address these accusations, Mouawad said the Syrian regime was convinced it was necessary to eliminate him and his mother for Franjieh's benefit. "The Syrian regime believes in the necessity of relieving Franjieh in the North by liquidating us. If he is so sure of his leadership in the region, why get rid of us?" he asked. Mouawad vowed to file a slander and libel lawsuit against Franjieh for accusing him of involvement in toppling the Guinean president. He further demanded Franjieh issue a public apology for the accusation, saying the former minister had already sent delegates to apologize for the "slip of tongue" in which he compared Mouawad to Wehbe. Mouawad added Franjieh "received his manners from the Syrian intelligence services, which explains his comments."
He further described Franjieh as a "leftover of the Syrian tutelage regime."

Dakkash visits Jumblatt to garner further support
By Maher Zeineddine -Daily Star correspondent
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
CHOUF: In his latest effort to secure his nomination as a "compromise candidate" in the Baabda-Aley by-election, former MP Pierre Dakkash paid a visit to the head of the Democratic Gathering, MP Walid Jumblatt Tuesday.
In comments made after his meeting with the Druze leader, Dakkash said: "[Jumblatt] was responsive to the need to avoid an electoral battle, and he will discuss with all the parties the means to reach a solution that suits the national interest." Asked if he believed an accord would be reached despite the political alliance announced Monday between Aoun and Hizbullah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the candidate said: "I am still very optimistic regarding the elections, and I believe that my candidacy would spare conflicts between all the parties, including the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement.
"I hope that accord will be reached over my candidacy, but I will be satisfied if the parties agree on someone else for the sake of Lebanon's interest."The former MP ran an unsuccessful campaign in parliamentary elections held in May as a candidate on Kesrouan MP Michel Aoun's list. Following the death of LF MP Edmond Naim, two other candidates put themselves forward for Baabda-Aley's Maronite seat, journalist May Chidiac and Dory Chamoun, the head of the National Liberal Party, are both running as independents.

looking into international court options
Venue for hariri murder trial sought
By Leila Hatoum -Daily Star staff
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
BEIRUT: The Justice Ministry is presently considering the various available options for the formation of an international court to try suspects in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri, according to Daily Star sources.
According to a judicial source, the Justice Ministry is working on several drafts of the various models of such a tribunal, "which would be of an international nature" and "based on the demand of the Justice Minister Charles Rizk, and the Cabinet."The source added that "Lebanon is a concerned party in the issue, which is why it is trying to have a say in what the tribunal would be like."
The source also revealed that the ministry has "studied the forms of all the various international tribunals formed to date."
The source further said that when the UN Undersecretary General for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel came to Lebanon, "he discussed the issue of the tribunal with Rizk. So, as a ministry, instead of getting into future discussions without any pre-plans, we are preparing a ready-made model."
"We will be ready to present our opinion in the matter of the forming of this tribunal. We don't have a final opinion on the matter yet, and the final model would be picked after our discussion with the UN," the source said.
Michel was in Lebanon two weeks ago to meet with the president, speaker, premier and justice and foreign ministers in order to gather opinions and suggestions on the nature of the special tribunal.Contacted on Tuesday at United Nations headquarters in New York City, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told The Daily Star that Michel "is ready to come back to Lebanon to carry out further discussions on the matter of the tribunal." However, Haq said there is no official date for Michel's return to Beirut.
He also said that Michel "has actually been in touch with a wide range of officials of various countries on this matter, and not only Lebanese officials."The court is expected to be of an international nature and supported by the UN.
"When you want to discuss the creation of such a special tribunal you have to take into consideration four main steps," the judicial source explained. "The first is the panel of judges and their nationality. Will they be Lebanese, foreign, or mixed? "The second would be which law to apply. The Lebanese law as the crime happened in Lebanon? A foreign law as some or all of the perpetrators might be of foreign nationalities? "The third step is the procedures that the tribunal would follow. Some tribunals would use their own procedures, or might use the procedures of a certain country.
"The fourth step is discussing where this tribunal would be located, taking into consideration the safety of its judges and that they are far from any sort of external pressure; the cost of moving witnesses and suspects and so on.
"So if not in Lebanon where? In respect of this concept the Justice Ministry is entrusted with coming up with the court's scenario. But it remains that the final decision belongs to the UN and not us. But it will be taken in consensus."

Hamas victory won't affect UNRWA's work
By Mohammed Zaatari -Daily Star staff
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
TYRE: The UNRWA director in Lebanon, Richard Cook, said Tuesday that Hamas' victory last month in legislative elections in Palestine will not affect the nature of the agency's work. "Although we are following up on the developments, we eiterate that our activities are purely humanitarian and there are no political activities on the UNRWA's agenda," he added. Cook made the comment during a visit to refugee camps in Tyre, where he inspected a number of clinics and schools. Cook visited the Rashidieh refugee camp to inspect Al-Aqsa Secondary School, before holding a meeting at the camp with Fatah's commander in Lebanon, Brigadier Sultan Abu al-Aynayn.
Cook's visit is the first since Hamas' electoral victory, and since a series of protests by Palestinian popular committees across southern refugee camps against a number of UNRWA decisions. Palestinian refugees earlier this year staged protests against a decision to cut medical coverage, although UNRWA maintains it did not make any cuts.
Cook said the Lebanese government is cooperating positively with UNRWA and that ongoing contacts with officials aim to settle refugee-related issues, including permitting construction materials into the camps.
Cook promised to follow up on the issues until a "satisfactory result" was reached. Commenting on the protests over alleged cuts to the refugees' medical coverage, Cook said the issue was settled, explaining that "there are medical cases requiring special care that is not available in hospitals across the area, but in Beirut." Protestors had criticized the decision, arguing that Sidon possesses the state-of-the-art Hammoud Hospital, which the refugees' said was capable of providing treatment for complicated illnesses. The hospital used to receive the highest percentage of Palestinians in Lebanon.
Regarding financial difficulties burdening the UNRWA, Cook said: "In the beginning of every year we find ourselves struggling to cover the permanent and continuous deficit in the agency's budget to implement and complete projects for the refugees."He added: "So far, the agency managed to raise funds for these projects, including a major educational project which will be financed by the European Union and implemented within the three coming years."
Cook said other projects will be financed by the British and Japanese governments.


FPM-Hizbullah understanding fails to draw reaction from March 14 Forces-March 8 camp comforted by 'long-awaited' move
By Adnan El-Ghoul Daily Star staff
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
BEIRUT: Monday's agreement between Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement failed to prompt much reaction from March 14 forces Tuesday, whereas "the long-awaited move" comforted many parties within the March 8 camp, who believed the agreement "marks the beginning of a new era in Lebanon's political life."In comments on the Hizbullah-FPM "joint statement of understanding," March 14 politicians were contemplative and vague in assessing the new understanding. The Executive Committee of the National Bloc Party issued a statement welcoming the joint agreement, but at the same time criticized the document for "being unclear regarding the stance on sovereignty."
"While speaking of protecting Lebanon's sovereignty, the agreement allows Hizbullah to keep its own private army and decide on matters of peace and war unilaterally," the statement said. Speaker Nabih Berri lauded the Aoun-Nasrallah agreement, seeing in the meeting an example of how dialogue should proceed on the national level. The speaker said he would be calling for the proposed dialogue after the marking of the first commemoration of the killing of former Premier Rafik Hariri on February14.
"If we want to reach concrete results in any dialogue, the top leaders must meet and discuss the issues face to face," he said. Berri added that "second-line representatives or third-line leaders" could not accomplish an agreement. "They need months and probably more. Top leaders could accomplish the task within weeks," he said. Echoing Nasrallah and Aoun's call on the government to resign, many other parties said the Cabinet should be dissolved "if it admits its failure to tackle sensitive national issues."
The National Bloc said the government must make "firm decisions or resign." Meanwhile, the March 14 Forces gave the government one week to file a complaint against Syria "for instigating violence and riots in Lebanon."
Many pro-Syrian forces feel the FPM-Hizbullah agreement will not only shake Premier Fouad Siniora's Cabinet, but also topple the majority alliance. The landmark meeting between Nasrallah and Aoun pleased many pro-Syrian parties, such as former MP Talal Arslan's Lebanese Democratic Party and former Minister Wiam Wahab, who saw in the agreement an indication of the "tumbling March 14 Forces and their schemes in the face of the rising alliance, which begins in Palestine and ends in Iran, against the U.S.-Israeli alliance."
Former President Amin Gemayel said he was not surprised by the agreement. "Michel Aoun and Nasrallah have been courting each other since the general's return from Paris. The only exception was during the 2005 parliamentary elections."
In principle, most national leaders welcome any rapprochement between Lebanon's political parties. However, disagreements over several thorny issues remain at the heart of the reservations regarding the agreement.
Gemayel said he welcomed Aoun's understanding with Nasrallah insofar as "what serves Lebanese interests." The former president hoped the proposed national dialogue would begin as soon as possible. However, Gemayel said the "March 14 Forces had disagreed with Aoun over many issues, particularly over his rejection of the possibility of a Syrian involvement in Hariri's killing and in the subsequent series of bombing and murder attempts." Gemayel further said he had not found "anything new" in the joint statement. "The joint statement reflected the Cabinet's Policy Statement, including the stance on the resistance's arms.
"Despite not introducing new elements to the agreement, Aoun chose to side with Hizbullah and other pro-Syrian forces after he refused to respond to the repeated calls from March 14 Forces to join them in their quest for freedom, total independence and sovereignty."
At the same time, Gemayel said he would also call on Hizbullah and Amal to serve the same national goals which all parties share. "For that purpose, we encouraged the Hizbullah and Amal ministers to end their boycott and work with the Cabinet. We will also invite them to participate in commemorating February 14." According to the former president, the ongoing political bickering was not as harmful as many would like to believe, but was rather a tool to reach national consensus on many issues. "The extreme exchanges between Hizbullah and Walid Jumblatt were the only exception, while all other arguments had expressed the difference of political views in a positive manner," Gemayel added. Former Minister Joseph Hashem said the agreement had rekindled the hopes of the Lebanese people because "it has incorporated all of the demands put forward by the March 14 Forces."

Riot fears may stifle turnout at Hariri commemoration
Lebanese wary of repeat of Sunday's violent protests
By Raed El Rafei -Daily Star staff
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
BEIRUT: Following Sunday's violent riots, fears of a repeat of that scenario may dissuade many Lebanese, especially Christians, from participating in the gathering organized on February 14 on the first commemoration of former Premier Rafik Hariri assassination. "I would never take part in demonstrations after what happened on Sunday," said Najib Khalaf, one Beiruti citizen, who owns a bookstore in Tabaris. On Sunday, a demonstration took place in front of the Danish Consulate Tabaris, Ashrafieh, in protest against caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad. the protest turned violent when some demonstrators started attacking private properties and churches. Khalaf would not participate in the demonstration because he "no longer trusted the government's ability to protect its citizens." Joanna Nashef, an auditor, also said Sunday's riots left her with "a fear of extremists striking again in other demonstrations." She said that Sunday's violent images were "too fresh" for her to decide if taking part in the commemoration of Hariri's assassination was a good idea. In fact, Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt raised the question of whether "the aim of the intentional disturbances on Sunday was to scare off Christians from taking part in February 14 gathering," in Tuesday's edition of Al-Mustaqbal local daily. Despite citizens' fear, March 14 Forces continued mobilizing the street to participate in honoring the memory of Hariri on February 14 in Martyrs' Square.
MP Boutros Harb said that he was calling on the Lebanese to take part massively in the gathering in order to "pursue the march towards Lebanon's full independence."
Harb said that Sunday's riots might have affected negatively Christians who were planning on gathering in Martyrs' Square on February 14, adding that it created "an atmosphere of apathy."
Blaming the riots partly on the lack of organization, he said there would be full coordination between the organizers of the gathering and security forces "in order to prevent any infiltrators from sabotaging the peaceful commemoration of Hariri's killing."Nader Nakib, representative for the Future Youth Movement, said the movement was visiting the houses of people whose properties were damaged Sunday to voice their full solidarity.
"The infiltrators on Sunday were trying to break the image of a strong united Lebanon and we would never allow this to happen," Nakib said, adding that the February 14 gathering is for all Lebanese because what happened last year on that day was "terrible" for everybody.
Regrading the participation of other political forces in the gathering, mainly the Free Patriotic Movement and Hizbullah, Nakib said these forces have not officially confirmed their participation yet but that "the atmosphere was positive until now."A representative from the FPM student body, Roland Khoury, said the party's leadership is going to take part in the gathering but there won't be any calls for FPM supporters to participate. "We leave it to our supporters to decide whether to participate or not," he said. Meanwhile, a Hizbullah spokesperson said the party had yet to decide on whether to take part in the February 14 gathering.

Watt praises response of officials and clerics to riots
Daily Star staff-Wednesday, February 08, 2006
BEIRUT: British Ambassador James Watt described Sunday's riots in Beirut as "painful and heinous acts that were planned to undermine civil peace." Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after meeting with Beirut Maronite Bishop Boulos Matar, Watt applauded the "wise" and unwavering reaction of national politicians and religious clerics, saying: "I am sure that dialogue between the Lebanese will prevail over violence and fundamentalism." Watt also paid a visit to Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani. The ambassador said he told Qabbani that "true national beliefs lie in tolerance and mutual respect between religions, something we saw in the spiritual leaders and politicians of all Lebanese confessions."
Watt praised Qabbani's stance, and insisted that "these events are not of the Lebanese traditions and do not reflect the nature of the Lebanese." "The Lebanese community knows how to deal with such events," he said. Meanwhile, the Military Public Prosecutor's Office has received several files pertaining to suspects arrested in the wake of Sunday's riots. The acting government delegate to the Military Tribunal is expected to examine the files before launching legal proceedings. - The Daily Star

Hamas victory won't affect UNRWA's work
By Mohammed Zaatari - Daily Star staff
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
TYRE: The UNRWA director in Lebanon, Richard Cook, said Tuesday that Hamas' victory last month in legislative elections in Palestine will not affect the nature of the agency's work. "Although we are following up on the developments, we eiterate that our activities are purely humanitarian and there are no political activities on the UNRWA's agenda," he added. Cook made the comment during a visit to refugee camps in Tyre, where he inspected a number of clinics and schools. Cook visited the Rashidieh refugee camp to inspect Al-Aqsa Secondary School, before holding a meeting at the camp with Fatah's commander in Lebanon, Brigadier Sultan Abu al-Aynayn.
Cook's visit is the first since Hamas' electoral victory, and since a series of protests by Palestinian popular committees across southern refugee camps against a number of UNRWA decisions. Palestinian refugees earlier this year staged protests against a decision to cut medical coverage, although UNRWA maintains it did not make any cuts.
Cook said the Lebanese government is cooperating positively with UNRWA and that ongoing contacts with officials aim to settle refugee-related issues, including permitting construction materials into the camps.
Cook promised to follow up on the issues until a "satisfactory result" was reached. Commenting on the protests over alleged cuts to the refugees' medical coverage, Cook said the issue was settled, explaining that "there are medical cases requiring special care that is not available in hospitals across the area, but in Beirut." Protestors had criticized the decision, arguing that Sidon possesses the state-of-the-art Hammoud Hospital, which the refugees' said was capable of providing treatment for complicated illnesses. The hospital used to receive the highest percentage of Palestinians in Lebanon.
Regarding financial difficulties burdening the UNRWA, Cook said: "In the beginning of every year we find ourselves struggling to cover the permanent and continuous deficit in the agency's budget to implement and complete projects for the refugees."
He added: "So far, the agency managed to raise funds for these projects, including a major educational project which will be financed by the European Union and implemented within the three coming years." Cook said other projects will be financed by the British and Japanese governments.

Lebanon arrests five for army barracks attack
07 Feb 2006 15:58:07 GMT
By Alaa Shahine-BEIRUT, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Lebanon has arrested five men who confessed they were behind a bomb attack at an army barracks in Beirut last week, the acting interior minister said on Tuesday. The five, three Palestinians and two Lebanese, also said they were responsible for attacks on army posts in the south Lebanon city of Sidon, Ahmad Fattfat told a news conference. "A large quantity of arms were also seized at a hideout in Sidon that belonged to this group," he said. "Those people were not acting as individuals but as an organisation," Fattfat added but declined to elaborate.
The blast outside the Fakhreddine Barracks in Beirut slightly wounded a soldier, wrecked a car and smashed windows of nearby buildings. The bomb exploded shortly after a local newspaper had received a call from someone claiming to speak on behalf of al Qaeda and saying a security target in Beirut would be bombed in retaliation for the arrest of 13 group members last month. Fattfat said authorities were still questioning the 13 men -- seven Syrians, three Lebanese, one Saudi, one Jordanian with Lebanese nationality and one Palestinian.
A military prosecutor charged them last month with planning to launch terrorist attacks. Fattfat was named acting interior minister after the resignation of Hassan al-Sabaa on Sunday hours after Muslim rioters torched a building housing the Danish consulate to protest the publishing of Prophet Mohammad cartoons in Europe.
Fattfat said preliminary investigations could not substantiate claims by the country's main anti-Syrian coalition that Syrian forces and Jordanian and Palestinian militants had infiltrated Lebanon to cause Sunday's riots.
Fattfat, a member of the same coalition, said the number of people arrested after the riots, during which a church and private property at a Christian district were also vandalised, rose to 416 suspects.
They were 223 Lebanese, 138 Syrians, 47 Palestinians, seven stateless people and one Sudanese, he said, adding that all non-Lebanese who took part in the riots were in the country legally. Lebanon has apologised to Denmark for the attack.
The coalition, which holds a majority in parliament and the government, said on Monday Syrian officers led by military intelligence chief Asef Shawkat, brother-in-law of President Bashar al-Assad, were behind the unrest.
Syria ended three decades of military presence in Lebanon in April after an international and Lebanese outcry over the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Many Lebanese blame Syria for the killing and a string of ensuing bombings and assassinations. Damascus has strongly denied any role.

Italian FM: Syria did nothing to protect embassy
By ASSOCIATED PRESS-Feb. 7, 2006 3:02
Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini accused Syria of not working convincingly to block the assaults against Western embassies in that country and denounced the nation as "a danger."
"I refuse to think that in a country like Syria, the assaults on the embassies weren't in some way tolerated, or in any case, not blocked in any convincing manner" by the authorities, Fini said on a talk show on state television late Monday night.
On Saturday, the Danish and Norwegian embassies were burned in Syria as protesters denounced publication in a Danish paper of 12 caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. "Syria objectively is a danger," Fini said. "Can one think that the regime that militarily controls public opinion did not know about the organization of the protests?" asked the minister, who leads a right-wing party in Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government.

Iraqi General: Saddam Flew WMDs to Syria
Webcast News Service, 6 February 2006
Former Iraqi general Georges Sada, who served as second-in-command of the Iraqi air force under deposed dictator Saddam Hussein, says Hussein moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the US-led invasion by loading them into civilian aircraft in which the passenger seats were removed. The revelation is made in the newly published book, Saddam's Secrets.
Speaking to The New York Sun, Sada reported that special Republican Guard units led by Saddam's cousin, Ali Hussein al-Majid, nicknamed "Chemical Ali," loaded "yellow barrels with skull and crossbones" in two Boeing jets. The planes made 56 flights to Syria in the weeks leading up to the war. Hussein also sent WMD out on trucks.
"Saddam realized, this time, the Americans are coming," Sada said. "They handed over the weapons of mass destruction to the Syrians." The revelation follows by one month Israeli Gen. Moshe Yaalon's comments that Israel had intelligence showing that Saddam "transferred the chemical agents from Iraq to Syria."
The term "weapons of mass destruction" is used to describe nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. In the case of Iraq, Hussein was suspected of possessing primarily chemical weapons, although the Iraqis were also working on developing nuclear weapons. As part of the ceasefire in the 1991 Persian Gulf war, Hussein agreed to get rid of his WMDs. However, Hussein's many "palaces" were off-limits to U.N. weapons inspectors, and the dictator kicked the U.N. inspectors out of Iraq in 1998.
A U.S.-led coalition occupied Iraq in 2003, in part because Hussein was suspected of continuing to possess chemical weapons. However, no chemical weapons have been found by the occupying forces.
On March 16, 1988, Hussein attacked the Iraqi Kurdish town of Halabjah with a mix of mustard gas and nerve agents, killing 5,000 civilians, and wounding 10,000 more.
Syria, which shares a long border with Iraq, is ruled by the Baath party, as was Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The Baath party was founded in 1945 as a radical, left-wing, Arab nationalist party and came to power in both Syria and Iraq in 1963.
Syria's regime, headed by dictator Bashar Assad, has a long history of supporting terrorist groups. Terrorist groups sponsored by Syria include Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In addition, Assad has been accused of masterminding the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Sada's book also says that on the eve of the first Gulf War, Saddam was planning to use his air force to launch a chemical weapons attack on Israel.

Moqtada al-Sader on visit to Syria and Lebanon
Arabic Monitor: Damascus, 6 February - On a several days visit to Syria, the Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sader was officially received upon his arrival in Damascus yesterday. He is reported to have visited a Shiite shrine in Syria and met with Iraqi exilees. Interviewed by Al-Jazeera, Moqtada al-Sader said he would consider particpation in the Iraqi government if this would contribute to rid Iraq of the occupation forces. The visit to Syria will be followed by a visit to Lebanon.

Grand Mufti of Syria expresses regret over assault on Western embassies
Arabic Monitor:-Damascus, 6 February - The Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmad Badruddin Hassoun expressed deep regret over the misbehaviour of some rioters who abused of last Friday's protest demonstration against the offensive cartoons published by Western newspapers to launch an assault on the Danish and Norwegian embassies. Hassoun said "we feel sadness over what some people did, driven by their emotions into a stage in which they impaired our dialogue with the Danish and Norwegian peoples." He also disclosed that the Danish ambassador three days ago brought him an official letter from the Danish prime Minister in which he apologized and expressed sorrow over what some Danish newspapers did, informing that "we had already accepted the apology, and agreed that the Danish newspaper concerned would publish articles by some Moslems in Denmark on the noble attributes and traits of the Prophet Mohammad so that we don't reach the stage of conflict or lose friendship of some of our friends in Europe who support Arab rights." Sheikh Hassoun asserted that last Friday's protest march had evolved as a peaceful and disciplined action, but that at a certain point some rioters intervened and turned the demonstration into an assault on the buildings. Voicing out his distress over the unexpected violence, the Grand Mufti declared that "we have never expressed our anger this way before. We have always believed that the dialogue with the others can be achieved by teaching not by killing, harming or burning them."

The Siniora Government Fully Responsible For the Hostility against the Ashrafieh Residents
February 7, 2006 CLAO
In an unprecedented show of chaos and hostility, angry mobs rampaged the Ashrafieh district in Beirut on Sunday February 5th. What started out as a demonstration organized by Muslim Clerics in Lebanon protesting recent derogatory cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in the Scandinavian countries, turned into an ugly riot smashing cars, windows that culminated into setting fire to the building that houses the diplomatic mission of Denmark. As if not enough lack of civility and criminal behavior, the mob turned against Christian churches and icons reeking havoc with a clear intent of intimidation to the predominately Christian population of the district with Lebanese Security forces standing idle for the most part and ultimately retreating under the pressure of the mob.
The Council of Lebanese American Organizations (CLAO) condemns in the strongest terms these tragic events and expresses outrage to the complete failure of the Lebanese Security Forces to prevent the mob from terrorizing the population and destroying their properties. Even more disturbing are reports that Lebanese Security Intelligence services had come across information about the real and most malicious intent of some of the factions, prior to the actual demonstration.
With the security situation deteriorating after fifteen car bombs and multiple assassinations since the withdrawal of the Syrian Occupation Forces in April 2005, CLAO holds the current government lead by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora fully responsible for the latest wave of violence and calls for its immediate resignation.
CLAO would like also to point out that one of the major reasons at the root of the current situation is the outcome of a the parliamentary election of 2005 in which the Lebanese were coerced into undertaking, on the basis of a flawed electoral law that produced false representation in the current parliament and government. On this basis, CLAO would like to also call for an early parliamentary election based on an amended electoral law, which should also include provisions for expatriate voting, in order to ensure proper representation of the Lebanese people which in turn would lead to a national unity government capable of leading the reconstruction of Lebanon after 30 years of Syrian Occupation that demolished its government institutions.

Where is the Lebanese Government?
UALM: Government must resign at once.
For Immediate Release
Sydney, Australia – The United Australian Lebanese Movement (UALM) unconditionally condemns the violent protests and the resulting riots that occurred in Ashrafieh, Beirut on Sunday.
While the UALM respects the right of all people to be able to hold demonstrations and freely express their opinion, we denounce the use of terror, violence and vandalism.
One of the major questions to arise from the sad events on Sunday, is that why was the Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Army given strict orders not to deploy in the troubled areas. Instead a symbolic force was sent and was easily scared away by the raging protestors.
The UALM calls on the Lebanese Government to accept responsibility in allowing the protest to get out of hand. The Lebanese government continues to neglect its duty to the people it’s meant to protect.
The UALM also demands that the Lebanese Government do more to protect lives and property from those who look to instigate civil strife. The Lebanese Government has clearly shown that it cannot or is unwilling to control the security situation.
Due to the fact that there are certain groups who seem to have a free hand in Lebanon and because of the Governments inaction and incompetence the Lebanese people are now hostages in their own country. Taking into account the totally unacceptable political and security situation in Lebanon, the UALM demands that the Government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora resigns immediately. The resignation of the Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa is too little too late.
The whole Lebanese Government must also share some responsibility. The Lebanese people have had enough of their government’s failures.
The Lebanese government has continually failed to act against those who are committing crimes of all sorts from bombings, political crimes and violent riots.
OTHER UALM VIEWS:
The UALM congratulates the people of the Ashrafieh neighbourhood in Beirut for the restraint shown. An already volatile situation could have been made worse had the local residents decided to take matters into their own hands.
The UALM would also like to commend the Muslim clerics who were seen to be trying to quell the violence. Their bravery did not go unnoticed. There actions were appreciated by all Lebanese both Muslim and Christian. They are the real face of Islam.
Media contact: Charlie Khouri
Ph :(02) 9687 0518
Fax: (02) 9687 0975
Mob: 0411 868 222