Hezbollah Wins Major Concession In Lebanon

Militant Group Says They Will "Return Things" To Normal After Government Policy Reversal

(AP)  Hezbollah will "return things" to normal in Lebanon after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of bloody conflict, the militant group's deputy leader said Thursday.

The comments by Sheik Naim Kassem came after a meeting between Hezbollah representatives and a high-powered Arab delegation that is in the country trying to find a solution to Lebanon's worst crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.

"The Cabinet's reversal of the two decisions is a natural step to return things to the way they were before the two decisions," Kassem said. "We want a political settlement that will lead, in the end, to there being no victor and no vanquished."

Clashes between supporters of the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition broke out last week after the Cabinet decided to sack the airport security chief for alleged ties to Hezbollah and declared the militants' private telephone network illegal. The network is the backbone of the militant group's communication abilities and power on the ground.

The government rescinded those decisions Wednesday, saying that with the reversal, it hoped for a settlement in the crisis with the opposition that has paralyzed Lebanon for 18 months.

Kassem's comments also signaled that Hezbollah may end its civil disobedience campaign and reopen roads in the capital Beirut.

But its militiamen on the ground appeared to be taking their time - nearly an hour after Kassem's speech, broadcast live on Lebanese television stations, key Beirut roads were still blocked with sand barriers, including the one leading to the capital's international airport.

The recent violence has been the worst internal fighting in the country since the end of the civil war. The Lebanese police said in a statement late Wednesday that the week of violence left 65 people dead and some 200 wounded. The statement listed the names of the 65 killed.

The situation was calm Thursday, and there were no reports of violence across the country.

The Cabinet's turnaround amounted to a major Hezbollah victory and was the latest sign that the Shiite militant group, by resorting to force, appears to have gained the upper hand in a power struggle with the government.

Wednesday's reversal followed a full day of mediation by the Arab League delegation, which arrived that day in Beirut. The delegation was expected to announce details of a package deal it had brokered between Lebanese factions before leaving the country later Thursday.

Sunni Arab heavyweights Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who back the Saniora government, were not represented in the delegation. Syria, which supports the Hezbollah-led opposition, was also not included, as the three countries are considered too close to the opposing factions.

The Hezbollah-led opposition quit the Cabinet in November 2006, demanding more power and a veto over all government decisions. The deadlock has prevented parliament from electing a new president, leaving the country without a head of state for six months.

[truthyness]

The Republicans are playing Blacks for fools.....

and they''re doing a pretty good job of it.

[guadalcanal3]

So Hezbollah is going to take away the roadblocks??...I say it''s time for the Lebanese govt. to assert it''s legal authority and liquidate this psuedo 2nd govt.

[colonieny]

Carter is on the take from Big Arab Oil, and has been for many years. Look up Agha Hasan Abidi, who gave over 10 million dollars to the Carter "projects" and Aslo Sheikh Zayed bin Sultarn Al Nahayan who had his money given back from Haravard Divinity School because of the racist and anti Jewish lies being peddled in return for the "Bribe". But not CARTER. He took the money, and is now a full fledge LACKEY of the ARABS.
If you do not believe me, just google Carter and ARAB money, bribes etc. It is well documented.

And yes to all you silly Progressives - Google GAZA and YMCAs ,and you will find out that the poor Christians there have been brutalized since the Jews left, forced into conversion to islam and forced into marriages with islamic men ! No church services allowed. Throw backs .

[trishab4]

Common sens Arab policies in the Lebanese Capital broke the tension between the factions. Dialogue is a great tool to achieve goals when negotiating any peace deal.

BUSH, this idiot should learn more from those Arabs who speak to each other despite their differences.

Bush you are an idiot son of a butsh. Your idioty is legendary now. Unfortunately those who gave you the opportunity to spout you idiotic comments are as idiot as you. Oldmutt will soon be indicted for fraud and malpractice in his own country. Soon the world will get rid of your legendary chistian idiocy.

[obamawhama]

Posted by superdem at 03:11 PM : May 15, 2008
+ report abuse


*****************

carter , because of his incompetence, terrorism became big business in middle east

[superdem]

ColonieNY - what''s your prob, man ? You''re spouting some serious nonsense. Carter taking millions of dollars each year from arab oil ? That''s just crazy. He''s not a traitor to his own people - but he does speak the truth as he sees it, and having been President of the United States and having to deal with Israel and the arabs at the highest levels, he knows a LOT about the Middle East. Why are you so down on Carter, who happens to be a strongly practicing Christian ?

[questionnews]

The only "evidence" that Araft ordered the killings of those 2 scum sucking paedophilic american spies has come from the hymie kikenburgers who the entire world knows to be nothing but liars
Safe to say that the2 scum bag americans were executed by the parents of the little kids who they and their fellow americans had spent years molesting and raping - after all it''''s well known throughout the world that 99.9999% of americans are paedophiles which is why the american people are such ardent followers of the paedophilic cult of Cuntstainity

Posted by Cavs5714 at 10:32 AM : May 15, 2008



Troll alert!!! And a mentally ill one at that.

[colonieny]

IN MEMORY OF CLEO NOEL AND CURTIS MOORE, Americans.


After Sirhan Sirhan ( still a hero to ARABs for murdering ROBERT KENNEDY), ARAFAT ordered the kidnapping of STATE DEPT DIPLOMATS CLEO NOEL AND CURTIS MOORE, who were on assignment as officials from Washington.
ARAFAT wanted to exchange them for SIRHAN ! ( was he nuts or what !)
Nixon of course said, no.
ARAFAT then ordered the torture by skinning alive, burning their eyes out, roasting over a fire pit, crushing and cutting off their pppenises, and stuffing them down their throats until they suffocated, and more.. our two men (one was Black the other White Americans). (we could not tell who was who after ARAFAT was done with them) We have this on recorded telephone conversation.
Arafat was big on torture. He also like to direct the torture of young girls, when in Lebanon, cutting off breasts of daughters of Christians who opposed him, and of course raping , and sometimes his signature torture cutting off arms and legs, and dumping the body on the doorstep. ARAFAT gets a peace prize ? Shame.
This is what ARAB terrorism is about. And continues.
And Carter supports these scum ?
Why do you think Bethlehem is now less than 20 % Christian, but had been 60 % before Arafat''s Islamic occupation ?

[colonieny]

BAPTISTS TORTURED BY HAMMAS - CARTER- WHO TAKES MONEY FROM OIL RICH ARABS, IGNORES.

"The Islamic Outreach" (NICE NAME) head- Sheik Abu Saquer on 8 26 07 proclaimed that there was no need to have Christians in GAZA. There were only about 3,000 living there before Israel left.
Now that HAMAS is in control, what has happened to them ?
All Christian Women must wear Muslim dress in public. No Church Services allowed. The YMCAS were burned down, and he directors killed. Beatings and rapes, as expected. for example:
Mr. Rami Ayyad one local leader of the Christians, and Christian book store owner - only one, brave soul, was tortured and murdered by HAMAS police, 10 11 07. His family given refuge in Israel, his book store destroyed. A blazing book burning of Christian Books followed - sounds like NAZIS ?) By the way - to CARTER- Ayyad was a practicing BAPTIST ! Will you ask about what happened to your fellow BAPTIST ? and why ? be strong Pres. Carter. coward.
So said Islamic Outreach . " All Christians engaging in missionary activity in GAZA will be dealt with HARSHLY."
CARTER takes millions of dollars each year from rich ARAB OIL, just to be a traitor to his own people. Why ??

Posted by colonieNY at 11:49 AM : Apr 12, 2008