LEBANON: Arab League general secretary Amr Mousa arrives in Beirut

The head of the Arab League arrived in Beirut on Tuesday (December 12) facing an uphill struggle to mediate an end to a political stand-off between Lebanon's government and the Hezbollah-led opposition. Amr Moussa is due to meet leaders from both sides to seek a way out of a crisis which some fear could turn violent in a country that has gone through two civil wars in the past 50 years. A Sudanese envoy on Monday (December 11) made little progress in bridging the gap between the government, which is supported by countries including the United States, and the opposition, which is demanding veto power in the cabinet. Parliamentary majority leaders who control the cabinet are refusing to give in. They say that doing so would lead to greater Syrian and Iranian influence in the Lebanese government. Both countries back Hezbollah, which in turn has branded the cabinet a U.S. government in Lebanon. Anti-government protesters are spending their 12th consecutive day camped out in central Beirut, just metres from the offices of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, as part of a round-the-clock demonstration to press the opposition's demands. The anti-Syrian leaders who control cabinet say the opposition is trying to stage a coup against Siniora's government to derail plans for an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. They accuse Damascus of the killing. Syria denies involvement. Siniora's cabinet is expected on Tuesday to meet to refer to parliament a U.N. plan for the tribunal, which is one of the issues at the heart of the dispute between the government and Hezbollah and other Syrian allies. The opposition has declared the government and its decisions illegitimate since the resignation of Shi'ite Muslim opposition ministers on Nov. 11 stripped it of any Shi'ite representation. Government posts in Lebanon are divided along religious lines to ensure representation for the country's array of sects. Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud has also declared the cabinet illegitimate and on Saturday (December 9) rejected the tribunal plans. Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, whose Shi'ite Amal Movement is part of the opposition, is unlikely to call the chamber for a vote on the tribunal plan. Hezbollah and Amal, the most popular Shi'ite groups in Lebanon, have said they support the idea of the tribunal but want to discuss the details. But anti-Syrian politicians, including Saad al-Hariri -- Hariri's son and Lebanon's most powerful Sunni Muslim leader -- say the opposition wants to scupper it to protect its main backer, Damascus. Sunni-Shi'ite tensions are high in Lebanon, as is bad feeling between Christians whose leaders are allied to the rival camps. A Shi'ite protester was shot dead last week returning from the city centre protest. According to Siniora, the army has received orders to confiscate any weapons it finds. "The Lebanese army is going to the south, and will not deal with these people (Hezbollah supporters) as if they are thieves, they are not highway men they are resisters, and therefore, the army will deal with them as citizens. The Lebanese army has instructions not to allow any weapons, if they find anything to do with weapons they will confiscate, the Lebanese army is not going on a visit for a day or two, the Lebanese army is going there after 35 years and will stay there to protect the country," Siniora said.

ITN Source | December 12, 2006

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