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Lebanese parties slam calls for dissent by Syria's Tishrin
 Lebanese parties rejected on Tuesday Syria's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, after Syria's state-run Tishrin daily called on the Lebanese to hold a mass demonstration in Beirut to overthrow Premier Fouad Siniora's Cabinet.
| That's nearly as subtle as a sledge hammer. I wonder what time the buses load in Damascus? |
The call for massive protests came after Syrian President Bashar Assad described Siniora as "the slave of slaves" in a fiery speech against the mounting international pressure on his regime last Thursday. Tensions rose last week between Siniora and Hizbullah leaders who demanded the prime minister announce a firm position on Security Council Resolution 1559.
| The Hezbollah proxies are a lot more discrete than fergawdsake calling for street demonstrations in the party newspaper. |
The government is also under pressure to reduce the cost of diesel fuel, which is currently set at LL16,000 per tank. On Friday dozens of Bekaa residents demonstrated to demand the government lower the cost to LL12,000 per 20 liters.
"How many dozens?"
"More than one dozen." |
Siniora had met on Monday with North Bekaa MPs and heads of municipalities in an attempt to contain the socio-economic crisis before it develops into a political one, according to sources close to the premier. Although no Lebanese party has yet to call for demonstrations against Siniora's Cabinet, the premier's efforts to contain the crisis seemed to be ineffective after the Syrian call for revolt under the slogan of "Coldness and Hunger = Revolution."
| They already had a revolution, Pencil Neck... |
Tishrin said: "Participants in the Bekaa protests said a mass demonstration will be held next Thursday during Cabinet's weekly session to ask Siniora's Cabinet to resign."
"How many people you expecting?"
"Dozens!" |
It added: "The Bekaa residents' protests on Friday had a political nature and these protests are likely, according to Lebanese sources, to be transported to Akkar, the South and North Bekaa." The newspaper continued: "Press reports emerged lately that many Lebanese MPs and politicians are participating in this 'orange' protest to demonstrate against the hard living conditions add the high costs of diesel fuel. The slogans of the protesters will be Coldness and Hunger = Revolution."
| Just like Tishrin suggests? Ain't that a coincidence... |
The Free Patriotic Movement denied on Tuesday any connection to the call for demonstrations described by Tishrin as the "orange demonstration," the color adopted by the movement. In a statement, the FPM said that although its leadership is "opposed to the government's policies, especially its deficiency in solving the socio-economic crisis, it will not participate in any move that may destabilize the internal situation or harm Lebanon's sovereignty."
Posted by: Fred 2005-11-16 |
