Lebanon's new parliament re-elected a diehard friend of Syria to the powerful post of speaker Tuesday, setting off firework celebration across Beirut and in Shiite villages in south Lebanon by supporters of the one-time Shiite Muslim warlord. Lebanon's stunning changes this year have swept many of Syria's close allies from office after the Syrian military's withdrawal in April. Many had expected Nabih Berri to be no exception. He was the prime enforcer of Damascus' policies for the last 13 years in parliament and defended Syrian control to the last minute.But the 67-year-old not only managed to stay in office but he secured an overwhelming majority of 90 in a vote at the opening session of the 128-seat parliament, now dominated by anti-Syrians after elections earlier this month. Fireworks and gunfire reverberated across Beirut and in Shiite villages in south Lebanon after his re-election. Berri supporters drove around the city in cars plastered with his picture, waving the green flag of his Amal party and the yellow flag of Hezbollah, the Shiite guerrilla movement that backed him.
| "Hurrah! Hurrah! The Syrians are gone! Lebanon's independent! And we've still got Knobby!" |