|
Lebanon ruling coalition asks for Arab protection from Syria |
|
|
|
|
Written by News Editor
|
|
Saturday, 05 January 2008 |
Lebanon news, Lebanese radio
station , world news, music, discover Lebanon, visit Beirut, Radio sawt
Beirut
|
BEIRUT (AFP) — Lebanon's ruling coalition on Friday called on the Arab League to protect the country from what it said were Syrian attempts to block the long-overdue election of a new president.
"The forces of March 14 call on the Council of the Arab League to help lift the hand of the Syrian regime on Lebanon and help it elect a consensus president of the republic as soon as possible," it said, referring to the Western-backed parliamentary majority.
After a meeting at the home of majority leader Saad Hariri, the coalition made the appeal in a statement to Arab foreign ministers who are due to meet in Cairo on Sunday.
Lebanon has been without a president since the mandate of pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud expired on November 23 amid sharp divisions between the ruling majority and the opposition, which is backed by Syria and Iran.
"We call on the Arab League to protect independent Lebanon from destruction by the Syrian regime, and its terrorism aimed at shaking Lebanon's stability," the statement said.
"Lebanon has been the continued target of the Syrian regime since the April 2005 official Syrian (troop) withdrawal following the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri," the coalition said.
Syria has denied accusations that it was behind the killing of Hariri and other anti-Syrian figures in Lebanon since then.
"The Syrian attacks reached their peak when they blocked the Lebanese presidential election, leaving the presidency vacant," the statement said.
"They want to replace the democratic process with a dangerous and violent process, as expressed by prominent March 8 (opposition) leaders who have hinted that things could get out of hand and lead to discord," it warned.
Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Shiite militant Hezbollah which spearheads the opposition, said on Wednesday that if mediation to end the crisis fails, "the opposition will mobilise using all peaceful means possible."
He did not elaborate, but some media outlets hinted that the opposition could be considering a campaign of civil disobedience.
The opposition, which has been campaigning for a veto power in the government, withdrew all its six cabinet ministers in November 2006 and later launched a sit-in outside government offices which continues to this day.
Last Friday, a parliamentary session called to elect a president was postponed until January 12 -- the 11th postponement of a vote since September. |
News 
