Shiite cleric blames foreign and local powers for Lebanon's woes

Shiite cleric Mohammed Hussien Fadlallah blamed meddling foreign powers for dictating the make-up of Lebanon's political administration. "Lebanon 's circumstances are and were a result of external powers, despite the will of its people," he said on Voice of Lebanon Radio.

Fadlallah claimed that certain politicians had remained in power because of their alliances with outside countries. "We do not want to criticize these people but instead their positions because they no longer represent the people's will," he said.

Fadlallah warned of a situation in the region that might "turn the future upside down for Lebanon." Fadlallah argued that foreign forces influenced different Lebanese sects which resulted in the Lebanese feeling more loyalty to the sect than to their country.

He said it was difficult to talk about a solution at a time when religious divisions have assumed such an importance. Fadlallah added that the resignation of one government and the rise of another cannot solve the problem because it was tied to the system rather than to any one politician.

Regarding the government's economic performance, Fadlallah said that any borrowing must be paralleled by projects to generate funds, something he said was lacking in Lebanon. "The government is moving along two lines: the first is that of debts and the second of taxes which has led politicians to score points off each other," he added.

Referring to prime Minister Rafik Hariri's $800 million US spending plan, he said that the government had failed to find the adequate funding, adding that the solution was to impose further duties on luxury goods only and not burden the poor with extra taxes.

He said that Lebanon's spiraling debt would soon force the country to submit to the authority of larger countries.