Lebanon dialogue call dismissed

BBC ^ | Saturday, 19 March, 2005, 20:02 GMT | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Lebanon dialogue call dismissed

The latest blast heightened fears of renewed violence

A leading member of the Lebanese opposition has rejected the president's call for dialogue to resolve the political turmoil gripping the country.

President Emile Lahoud appealed for an immediate dialogue between Lebanon's anti-Syrian opposition and pro-government factions.

But Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said Mr Lahoud was too closely tied to Syria.

Mr Lahoud's call came after a car bomb in a predominantly Christian suburb in the capital Beirut injured 11 people.

It is not clear who the target was. But the opposition says Damascus supporters are keen to stir unrest to justify the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon.

[President] Lahoud calls on the sides... to live up to their historic responsibilities to protect the higher interests of Lebanon Emile Lahoud Lebanese president Media ponder Lebanon crisis

The opposition has blamed Syria for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a car bomb on 14 February in Beirut.

Damascus has denied the accusations.

Lebanon has been in a state of turmoil since then and Syrian troops have begun pulling back to the east of Lebanon after intense international pressure, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut.

Lahoud 'accused'

Hours after the latest car bombing, President Lahoud's office issued a statement calling for talk.

"[President] Lahoud calls on the sides... to live up to their historic responsibilities to protect the higher interests of Lebanon at this sensitive stage by opening an immediate and direct dialogue to lay out all the outstanding problems and reach a consensus in the interest of Lebanon," it said.

But Walid Jumblatt, leader of Lebanon's most powerful Druze clan, turned down the offer.

"Lahoud today invites us to dialogue as though he is an independent when he is accused," Reuters quoted him as saying.

In a sign of the deepening crisis, President Lahoud cancelled a trip to Algeria to attend a two-day Arab summit starting on Tuesday "because of the situation" in the country.

Tensions have been high between the anti-Syrian and the loyalist camp, with several incidents over the last few weeks involving pro-Syrian demonstrators beating up or shooting anti-Syrian protestors.

Syrian workers in Lebanon have also been attacked by anti-Syrian gangs.

The violence has been contained until now, but the latest explosion is a reminder of how things might develop, says our Beirut correspondent.

The midnight (2200 GMT Friday) blast took place in the northern suburb of New Jdeideh, a part-residential, part-commercial area.

It created a two-metre deep crater, wrecked cars and blew off the front of nearby buildings.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Last Updated: Saturday, 19 March, 2005, 12:06 GMT

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Media ponder Lebanon 'crossroads'

There is renewed anxiety in Arab press editorials that political tensions in Lebanon are leading to violence.

Many commentators say the country's crisis is worsening, and that Lebanon's precarious social balance is under increasing strain.

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Lebanon is now at a dangerous crossroads. The country's immediate future will be gloomy and turbulent if no efforts are made to hold national dialogue to set up a new government, and contain the political split by holding parliamentary elections, as a peaceful and democratic way to resolve the issue of Lebanon's future.

Syria's Al-Thawrah, commentary by Galib Qandil

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It is imperative for the present Lebanese political situation to emerge from its deadlock and seriously acknowledge other participants in the country's political life, however large or small their numbers. This is the only way Lebanon can come out of a state of assumption into a state of certainty.

Lebanon's Al-Safir, commentary by Wajih Qansu

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After weeks of political posturing, bickering and mudslinging, we have reached a moment for a potential breakthrough in Lebanese politics. The hostile political climate has begun to thaw, with the leaders of the country making attempts to defuse tensions and expressing commitment to bringing Lebanon out of its period of crisis. Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, Chuf MP Walid Jumblatt and Sidon MP Bahiya Hariri, along with other members of both the loyalist and opposition camps, have all now firmly expressed a commitment to implementing the Taif Accord.

Lebanon's The Daily Star editorial entitled "It is time for Lebanon's leaders to shelve their brawn and use their brains."

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It is now necessary for those in charge of [ex-prime minister Rafik] Hariri's media establishment to revise all the venomous rumours and suspect reports that they have been disseminating and understand that such broadcasts lead only to consequences of which Hariri himself consistently cautioned.

Syria's Al-Thawrah, editorial by Chief Editor Fa'iz al-Sayigh

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Lebanon is going through an interim period. We know exactly the station we are leaving but absolutely do not know at which station we will arrive.

Lebanon's Al-Safir, commentary by Joseph Samahah

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If Prime Minister Omar Karami succeeds in forming a national unity government, the opposition will have succeeded in blocking foreign interference, or the mass of honey-coated tar, and in realising its slogans of freedom and sovereignty. If Karami fails in his mission, the opposition will also have succeeded, but in taking Lebanon into the unknown and chaos...

Syria's Al-Thawrah, article by Khalid al-Ashhab

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The gap between the opposition and the loyalist camp continues to grow, with the deadlock seeming almost irreversible. So far, all behind-the-scene contacts and mediation between Prime Minister-designate Omar Karami and the opposition over the next government have failed.

Lebanon's The Daily Star

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The [Syrian] withdrawal is no longer the issue. The Syrian presence in Lebanon seems to be already in the past... The Lebanese crisis is worsening day by day... It is going round in empty circles with demonstrations and counter-demonstrations which could lead to the danger of a political and constitutional vacuum.

London-based Al-Arab al-Alamiyah

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What is behind this stirring up of the people?... Once again Beirut turns into a massive field of demonstrations that is not only trying to outline the future of Lebanon but perhaps that of the Middle East.

London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat

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Lebanon's unity after Hariri's assassination was only a pretext to divide the country under the slogans of democracy, Arabism, Islam, unity and national peace. Our hands are on our hearts in fear for this beloved country.

Jordan's Al-Dustur

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BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.

[Patrick_k]

Syria is bound to leave Lebanon.
Syria's puppet regime does not have the right nor the power to start a dialogue tailored to its needs.
The dialogue already took place on the streets of Beirut on Monday 14th. Just watch the self-explanatory pictures of the 1.2 Million gathered to say NO to the rule of the police-state.

[SunkenCiv]

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said Mr Lahoud was too closely tied to Syria.

Syria's dictator suffers from craniorectosis, but there's a cure for that. ;')

"No dialogue" means "your time is past." :')

[Sthitch]

I am happy to read that they have learned that you cannot have a dialog with a tyrant, and the current Lebanese government is simply a lap dog to a tyrant.