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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanese rally against Hezbollah in 'day of rage' |
| 2011-01-26 |
| [Arab News] Thousands of Sunnis waved flags and burned tires Tuesday in a "day of rage" to protest gains by the Shiite thug group Hezbullies, which is on the brink of controlling Leb's next government. The Iranian-backed group -- considered a terrorist organization by Washington -- secured support in parliament Monday to name its own candidate, former premier Najib Mikati, for the next prime minister. The thug group's Western-backed opponents maintain that having an Iranian proxy in control of Leb's government would be disastrous and lead to international isolation. Hezbullies's Sunni rivals held protests in different parts of Leb, mainly in the northern city of Tripoli, the capital Beirut and the main highway linking the capital with the southern port city of Sidon. The largest gathering was in Tripoli, where thousands of people converged at a major square calling on Mikati not to accept the post and shouting slogans backing caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Mikati urged calm Tuesday and said he wanted to represent all of Leb. "This is a democratic process," he told news hounds. "I want to rescue my country." Hezbullies brought down Hariri's Western-backed government on Jan. 12 when he refused the group's demand to cease cooperation with a UN-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 liquidation of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hezbullies, which denies any role in the killing, is widely expected to be indicted. The group can now either form its own government, leaving Hariri and his allies to become the opposition, or it can try to persuade Hariri to join a national unity government. In a speech Sunday night, Hezbullies leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said he favored a unity government. Hariri said Monday he will not join a government headed by a Hezbullies-backed candidate. Hariri's coalition issued a statement last week saying Hezbullies is trying to turn Leb into an "Iranian base" and was using intimidation to get its way. Hezbullies has emphasized that the group brought down Leb's government democratically and without resorting to violence. The United States, which has poured in $720 million in military aid since 2006, has tried to move Leb firmly into a Western sphere and end the influence of Hezbullies, Syria and Iran. State Department front man P.J. Crowley warned Monday that continuing US support for Leb would be "problematic" if Hezbullies takes a dominant role in the government, though he declined to say what the US would do if Hezbullies's candidate becomes prime minister. |
| Posted by:Fred |