 Coming fast on the heels of the United Nation's and Washington's condemnations, Paris harshly slammed Saturday's blast in East Beirut, which left at least five injured and set six buildings ablaze. Speaking following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo, French President Jacques Chirac said: "All those who try and create chaos in Lebanon will be caught and severely punished."
| Who's gonna catch 'em? Emile? |
In a joint statement, Chirac and Koizumi insisted that "UN Security Council Resolution 1559 be fully implemented."
| And that'll be over Nasrallah's dead body. Hopefully... |
This third blast within eight days took place in a Christian neighborhood, devastating the industrial and shopping neighborhood of Sad al-Boushrieh, raised calls from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for preserving stability in Lebanon. Meanwhile, U.S. State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Elizabeth Dibble reiterated U.S. condemnation of the blast, saying Lebanon is under the international "microscope." In an interview with Radio SAWA in Washington, Dibble said: "The international community is watching Lebanon very closely. The [Lebanese] population deserves to live free of fear in a non-violent atmosphere. We hope no other attacks will take place."
| Well, we're up to hoping now. Wonder what action's contemplated, and by whom? |
On Monday Lebanese opposition politicians continued to point the finger at the Lebanese security services controlled by the Syrian-backed government, accusing them of seeking to foment confessional unrest as Syria withdraws its troops from the country. Some opposition MPs have speculated that the recent spate of attacks is aimed at provoking instability to justify a continued Syrian military presence. Batroun opposition MP Butros Harb said on Monday that such acts of terror were part of a plan aiming at halting the current political momentum and oppressing the people through fear. "They are using fear as pressure against the Lebanese people in order to limit the popular 'Independence Intifada'. Only these acts have only managed to make Lebanese stick to their convictions more than ever," Harb said.
| Of course, the corpse count's not very high yet... |
"Each explosion adds another page to the government's file," said Zghorta MP Nayla Mouawad. Outgoing Telecommunications Minister Jean-Louis Qordahi said that such attacks were only aiming at distorting the modern and pacifist image of the country. "These attacks destabilize the country's unity. It is high time every official see they are not up to their responsibilities and duties," he said. On Sunday, Syrian-backed Lebanese President Emile Lahoud pledged to fight the "violence gripping his country." "We will do all we can. We should all be united because this is how we can save the country," Lahoud said after attending Easter Sunday Mass service.
| You might start by arresting somebody, Emile. Then you could run them through the wringer and arrest a few more people. |
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