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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Hizbullah number 2 reaches out to Hariri | |
| 2007-02-22 | |
Hizbullah's number two, Sheikh Naim Qassem, extended a conciliatory hand to the Future Movement Wednesday, saying the opposition merely wanted "real participation" in ruling the country. Qassem was speaking before hundreds of students and their families at the Lebanese University in a ceremony honoring 19 of its students who had fought and died in the summer 2006 war with Israel.
"We extend our hand to the Future Movement [and its leader, MP Saad Hariri] for real participation in governing our country," said Qassem, in the first overture by Hizbullah to a specific group in the March 14 Forces. "The international court [to try those accused of assassinating former Premier Rafik Hariri] will happen," he added, "when the national unity government is formed." The international court remains one of the main obstacles in the political deadlock between the two camps. "Lebanon is in crisis due to internal and external factors," he said. "The external one is because of the US. The United States does not want stability in Lebanon because it will lose control over the country if it settles." As for the internal factors, Qassem said there are "two figures" preventing the political deadlock from being resolved. "One leader is hiding behind bigger and stronger leaders, and the other desperately wants to become part of the ruling team," he added, indirectly referring to Hizbullah's strongest critics, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. But, he added, "let us return to discussion in order to reach a final solution as Lebanon has suffered enough." Qassem paid tribute to the 19 "martyrs" from Hizbullah's "Operation True Promise" whose portraits lined the stage. "Because of these young men, Lebanon can hold its head high," he said. | |
| Posted by:Fred |