Brief news around Syrias
withdrawal from Lebanon Lahoud accused of giving nationalities to Syrian spies, a Kuwaiti
newspaper reported Sunday that Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has given
Syrian secret servicemen Lebanese nationalities to stay behind after the
withdrawal.The report could not be independently confirmed although there
is speculation in Beirut that the Lebanese branch of Syria's ruling Baath
Party vows to open dozens of new centers in Beirut and other major
Lebanese cities.
Syria is evidently out to prove that the planned withdrawal of its
army and secret services would not really break its stranglehold on
Lebanon even though the Bush administration has vowed to redouble pressure
to finish off the role of President Bashar Assad's regime as the
undisputed power-broker in Beirut. - Naharnet said.Amal denounces
incitement against Syria, Amal movement said on Monday instigations
taking place in demonstrations were unacceptable and denounced attempts
to give the impression that demonstrators are waging the battle of
independence and sovereignty. A statement issued after a meeting of
Amal's politburo said such behavior was rejected, as Syria has sacrificed
a lot for Lebanon's stability, sovereignty and prosperity.
The statement said attempts to sow division between some parties and
forces on one hand, and parties represented by the Ain al-Tineh meeting
on the other, would not lead to any results. This refers to the
statements of some opposition members who say they would only establish
dialogue with Amal and Hizbullah, who are both part of the loyalists'
gathering, in addition to other pro-Syrian forces and figures. Waad party
calls for national-dialogue government
The Waad party called Monday for a national-dialogue government based
on the Taif Accord, it said in a recent statement. The statement stressed
the importance of forming a government that would sponsor a "rational and
courageous national dialogue" and hold fair elections. It also said the
party refused resorting to demonstrations, preferring dialogue over
street protests and denounced security breaches that took place in
Achrafieh and Saifi, urging security forces to protect anybody who wants
to express themselves. |