Reuters: Lebanon talks on govt change collapse

[Eugene]

Lebanon talks on govt change collapse

Reuters
Saturday, November 11, 2006; 6:37 AM

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Talks to defuse Lebanon's simmering political crisis
collapsed on Saturday after anti-Syrian leaders rejected demands from
Hezbollah and its allies for a decisive say in government.

"We did not reach a result today and the session was ended without
setting a date for a new session," Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun,
a Hezbollah ally, told reporters after a fourth round of talks.

Anti-Syrian participants confirmed the talks had failed.

The failure of the week-long talks, convened by parliamentary speaker
Nabih Berri, opens the door to a sharp escalation of tension that could
plunge the country into chaos.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/11/AR2006111100347.html

[bemildred]

1. Time for new elections? nt

[Igel]

2. Good.

The Iranian model is democracy with veto power by one hizb (or 'party'), in that case the religiously inclined clerics that have de facto power over everything. We still pretend that's a democracy, when it's democracy on a leash.

Of course, Iran junior wants the same model. A democracy, but with one hizb--of course, God's hizb--actually holding the leash. To make sure the others' hazaab (is that the plural for hizb? huzuub? huzub?), those not of God, don't do anything wrong.

[bemildred]

6. Hizbullah, Amal leave Lebanese gov't

Edit: Igil, sorry, did not mean to address this to you.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora on Saturday rejected the resignation of Hizbullah and Amal Cabinet ministers from his government, hours after the five Shi'ite Muslim members broke away in protest.

Saniora "rejects the resignation of the colleagues representing Hizbullah even if he receives the formal written resignations," said a statement issued by his office.

---

It was not immediately clear whether Hizbullah would stick to the ultimatum it gave political leaders to reach a deal on the national unity government or face mass street protests beginning Monday.

---

Saturday's breakdown of the talks and Cabinet resignations came day after the government received a draft document setting up an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri - another potential land mine in the escalating tensions between Saniora's government and its opponents.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1162378375140&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter

[aquart]

3. What IS the stated purpose of Hezbullah?

I mean other than to arm itself to the teeth and kill people?

[bemildred]

4. Five Shia ministers resign from Lebanese cabinet

BEIRUT - Five Shia ministers resigned on Saturday from the mainly anti-Syrian Lebanese cabinet after talks between the leaders of various political factions failed to resolve the political crisis in the country.

The ministers who resigned are members of the allied Shia movements, Amal and Hezbollah.

The resignations came after Lebanese leaders broke off round-table talks Saturday without reaching a solution to a crisis, which has seen pro-Syrian groups, led by Hezbollah, call for street demonstrations to topple the government.

The head of the Christian Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, told reporters after the meeting: ‘We did not reach any progress and we left without setting a date to meet again.’

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/November/middleeast_November205.xml§ion=middleeast

[Scurrilous]

5. Chaos in Lebanese gov't as pro-Syrian ministers resign

Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV says Hizbullah and allied Amal cabinet ministers resign from Lebanese government

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3326848,00.html

<snip>

"Hizbullah and Amal cabinet ministers resigned from the Lebanese government on Saturday, Hizbullah's al-Manar TV Station said.

However, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora announced Saturday that he refused to accept the resignation of ministers.

The resignation of five Cabinet ministers from Amal and Hizbullah throws Lebanon's political landscape in chaos, though it does not automatically bring down the government.

But by quitting, the five Shiite Muslim cabinet ministers remove the political cover from the country's main sect and would make it difficult for Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to govern."

[bemildred]

7. Another Lebanese Minister Quits

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Nov. 13, 2006 (UPI) -- Another Lebanese minister has resigned, deepening Lebanon's political crisis seen by some as an Iranian-Syrian plot.

Environment Minister Yaacoub Sarraf, a Greek Orthodox Christian, quit the Cabinet Monday prior to a meeting to discuss the formation of a special court to try those accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, reports CNN.

Sarraf's resignation from the 24-member Cabinet followed similar actions earlier by five Shiite ministers.

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_21249413.shtml