Hizbullah demonstrations, Lebanon government talks stand still

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese participating in the yesterday's demonstration opposing Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government shouted "We want a clean government."

The slogan reflected a message by Hizbullah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, who said, "The current government is illegal and illegitimate and we promise that a clean government will be established in future." Many of demonstrators, who gathered in the "Riyadh al-Solh" Square had come from other cities, towns and even villages to Beirut.

Lebanese military and police units have stationed in the entrances of the Beirut city and in different streets and roads in the route of demonstrators.

The center of demonstration, Riyadh al-Solh Square, is the seat of Lebanese government, parliament and a number of governmental institutes.

Demonstrators are carrying Lebanon national flag and placards with unified slogans to prevent any abuse. They also avoided carrying the pictures of their parties' leaders to illustrate their unity.

The organizing groups have set up tents since Thursday night to prepare some facilities for marchers. Many of demonstrators spent the night before in the Riyadh al-Solh and Shohada (Martyrs) Squares.

On Thursday, Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri said calls to take to the streets tomorrow to depose the government of Prime Minister Siniora were a direct result of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's decision to carry out a political coup and scuttle the international tribunal to try the suspects in Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's assassination. He said the protests aim at defending the assassins, but Hariri had vowed to pursue the campaign to approve a draft law to set up the tribunal, in Parliament and at the UN Security Council.

In an interview with Abu Dhabi Television, head of the Future Bloc questioned reasons behind focusing on deposing the government, scuttling the tribunal, and thwarting the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, while neglecting Israel’s continued occupation of the Shabaa Farms, its detention of Lebanese and daily violations of Lebanese sovereignty. He stressed that the interests of Syria and Iran are taking precedent to those of Lebanon.

Hariri made clear that demands to create a national unity government are not realistic because if partnership among the Lebanese is sought, it should include decisions on war and peace and should start with electing a President that unifies the country. He told Abu Dhabi Television that it is unacceptable for one Lebanese faction to lead the country in line with foreign motives, and to spark a war that the Lebanese were not ready for over the past summer. Hariri also said government decisions had been almost completely taken in a unanimous matter, in the presence of ministers from Hizbullah and the Amal Movement. He urged negotiations to resolve the current standoff.

Yesterday, Hariri called for dialogue among the Lebanese to resolve "high tensions" and the prevailing political crisis, away from any foreign intervention, and said Siniora's government cannot be toppled by street demonstrations but should be discussed in Parliament in line with the Constitution. Hariri said Lebanon’s main problem is the Presidency which does not represent the will of the people.

In an interview with Al-Hurra Television, Hariri urged Hizbullah, the Amal Movement, and General Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement to return to the negotiating table. He pointed out that today’s demonstration in Beirut was democratic and peaceful, despite serious concerns that were allayed. He praised the Army and security forces for maintaining peace and order. MP Hariri made clear that calls for toppling the government today are very different from the March 14 protests in downtown Beirut that brought down the pro-Syrian government following the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. He said at the time the ruling Lebanese and Syrian security apparatus had killed Premier Hariri, adding the ensuing government included members of Hizbullah and Amal.

Head of the Future Bloc expressed concerns over the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the Paris III international economic conference, and the creation of an international tribunal to try the suspects in Prime Minister Hariri’s assassination. He regretted attempts to topple the government after Israel’s deadly summer war, saying attention should have focused on reconstructing Lebanon. Hariri said any national unity government should take decisions on war and peace, and pointed out that the hundreds of thousands of people who demonstrated in Beirut today did not condemn Israel’s occupation of the Shabaa Farms, its continued detention of Lebanese, and its daily violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

Despite previous assurances of support for the international tribunal, Hariri said, Hizbullah and Amal Movement representatives walked out of the government when a UN proposal to create the court was discussed. He said the two parties have positioned themselves as defenders of the assassins. He added that President Emile Lahoud, who is a "hostage" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is also trying to scuttle the tribunal under Syrian instructions.

In the interview, Hariri stressed that today’s demonstration was not national since it was mainly attended by Hizbullah supporters. He also rejected sectarian rhetoric, and said those calling for a national unity government are implementing a foreign agenda and oppose the special court’s creation and the implementation of Resolution 1701. Hariri reiterated that Hizbullah was not involved in the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri. Asked about the group’s arms, head of the Future Bloc said Israel continues to occupy Lebanese land and that the issue should be resolved by the Lebanese without foreign intervention. Hariri also pointed out that the region is witnessing simmering tensions that should be kept out of Lebanon, including tensions between Sunnis and Shiites. However, he made clear that a civil war is not looming.

Nicholas Burns, US under secretary of state for political affairs said yesterday the United States fully supports Lebanon's government for its commitment to peace, security, and efforts to represent all Lebanese communities, says .

In an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC), Burns said that Prime Minister Siniora is widely respected by leaders around the world. "He has earned that respect by the way that the he has acquitted himself in office," Burns said. "And frankly there is little respect for those who would say that the way forward in Lebanon is through violence or intimidation."

Commenting on anti-government demonstrations led by Hizbullah, Burns emphasized that the citizens of Lebanon have a right to voice their opinions and dissent. The United States, however, like many others in the international community, remains concerned about the "pernicious" influence of Iran and Syria in Lebanon's internal affairs, according to Burns.

Meantime, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak held yesterday contacts and consultations to contain the current situation in Lebanon in light of the massive rally aiming at toppling the current Lebanese government and forming a new national unity cabinet. Mubarak also received a phone call from Siniora to inform him of the current situation.

President Mubarak also sent a message to the Speaker of the Lebanese palrliament, Nabih Berri, urging him to intervene to contain the crisis and maintain stability and security in Lebanon. The message was conveyed by Egypt's Ambassador Hussein Darar.

Meanwhile, Former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel lauded the efforts of President Hosni Mubarak to defuse tension in Lebanon.

In statements to the Egyptian TV on Friday, the father of slain Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel said: "We heavily rely on Arab support for a strong Lebanon."

Gemayel said that some Lebanese parties action serves the interests of foreign agenda.

Today, National Public Radio (NPR) reported that today's demonstrations by Hizbullah supporters were asking for the government to resign, with Siniora saying that open and clear dialog about this issue is the only way to resolve this problem. However, NPR added that Hizbullah said that it will not enter talks until the government resigns first.