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Last update - 19:51 05/03/2009
Britain re-establishing contact with Hezbollah
By News Agencies

Britain's government on Thursday said it was re-establishing contact with the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.

Britain ceased contact with members of Hezbollah in 2005. The United Kingdom listed Hezbollah's military wing as a proscribed terrorist organization last year.

But Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on Thursday that it had reconsidered its position following political developments in Lebanon.
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Britain's ambassador attended a meeting in January in Beirut alongside a
Hezbollah lawmaker, the ministry said.

The Foreign Office added that it was seeking to build relations with other legislators attached to the group.

Israel fought a 34-day war against Hezbollah in 2006 after the group kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid. In early January, Hezbollah was behind the two Katyusha rocket attacks that struck northern Israel. In both cases, the organization used proxy Palestinian militant groups to launch the rockets from southern Lebanon.

On Wednesday, a British minister said the government was open to talks with Hezbollah's political wing.

"We have reconsidered the position...in light of more positive developments within Lebanon," Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell told a parliamentary committee. "For that reason we have explored establishing contacts."

He said he was referring to the formation in July last year of a unity government in which Hezbollah and its allies hold effective veto power, as agreed under a deal that ended a paralyzing political conflict in the country.

"We will look to have further discussions and our overriding objective within that is to press Hezbollah to play a more constructive role, particularly to move away from violence," Rammell said.

Hezbollah comprises guerrilla fighters, members of parliament, social, medical and reconstruction. It is highly centralized and all members undergo military training.

The move could be significant because Britain, the United States and other powers are locked in a dispute with Iran, Hezbollah's backers, over its nuclear program.

The powers accuse Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran says it only wants nuclear energy.

Lebanon is due to hold parliamentary polls in June which are expected to be a tight contest between anti-Syrian factions and a Hezbollah-led alliance.

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      1.   What is next : Britain reconsiders open talks with Hamas! 03:01  |  Akram Zekaria 05/03/09
      2.   Sensible step 04:12  |  Canadian 05/03/09
      3.   Neville Chamberlain 04:38  |  baurat 05/03/09
      4.   the british are becoming hypocrtitical as well 04:50  |  VIPER 05/03/09
      5.   everyone talks to everyone 05:53  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/03/09
      6.   Neville Chamberlain? 06:12  |  jim the mechanic 05/03/09
      7.   Two Ways to Go On This 06:17  |  Brad 05/03/09
      8.   Do the Moderate Palestinians have the courage ? 07:05  |  Akram Zekaria 05/03/09
      9.   You are Spot-On Cipora. 07:22  |  Akram Zekaria 05/03/09
      10.   British integrity 08:30  |  Graeme A 05/03/09
      11.   If they can talk with Likud 08:52  |  David 05/03/09
      12.   Israel is a shining example 08:53  |  Natallie Durson 05/03/09
      13.   Recognizing Hezbollah`s Right to Exist is Vital to ME Peace 09:15  |  Johan Odin 05/03/09
      14.   Communication is essential 09:33  |  Mosdave 05/03/09
      15.   Hostile Partner 09:49  |  Natallie Durson 05/03/09
      16.   always an excuse for descendants of chamberlain, baldwin, wilson 09:52  |  dante 05/03/09
      17.   no such thing as "LOOSING" when it comes to dialogue! (2nd try) 10:07  |  eric 05/03/09
      18.   WOULD BRITAIN CONTROL THEIR TERROR THOUGH, TALK IS CHEAP 10:27  |  Harvey 05/03/09
      19.   Israel should start to learn.. 10:37  |  Jacques 05/03/09
      20.   To Harvey 10:40  |  Jalil 05/03/09
      21.   Can`t beat them join them. 10:41  |  Colin 05/03/09
      22.   #7 Harvey 10:51  |  Aventis 05/03/09
      23.   ADMITTING who the real power is Lebanon.Hezballah militia and 11:05  |  PETER SM 05/03/09
      24.   Isolation Policy failed, Obama "Change" now! 11:09  |  Manny Goldstein 05/03/09
      25.   Yes, be prepared to talk to criminal terrorists 11:13  |  Mark Leaman 05/03/09
      26.   Yes, be prepared to talk to criminal terrorists 11:13  |  Mark Leaman 05/03/09
      27.   Negotiation with Terrorists 11:15  |  Le Corbeau 05/03/09
      28.   There is no obstacle 13:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/03/09
      29.   look at the glass as half full..... 13:38  |  Michael 05/03/09
      30.   Britain Reconsiders... 13:45  |  Yosemite 05/03/09
      31.   20 AND 27, I`ll take life, you guys opt for terror if you wish 15:48  |  Harvey 05/03/09
      32.   Now we all know 16:04  |  Lynn 05/03/09
      33.   Chris Linthwaite # 28 Hezbollah Has Already Been Absorbed 16:12  |  Jeff Northridge 05/03/09
      34.   About time. 16:21  |  Roo 05/03/09
      35.   A lesson on appeasement, Linthwaite, Labhras, Roo, Johnboy, Click 16:28  |  Sceptic 05/03/09
      36.   Makes sense! 16:35  |  Hannibal 05/03/09
      37.   About time. 16:58  |  Roo 05/03/09
      38.   Yes Natalie, Israel is a shining example 17:01  |  Arnold 05/03/09
      39.   to natalie and the British 17:04  |  nadav 05/03/09
      40.   UN Resolution 1701 BETRAYED Israel, Lebanon & the Free World 17:21  |  Linda Rivera 05/03/09
      41.   What`s wrong with THAT?: 17:22  |  S 05/03/09
      42.   Israel BETRAYED by WAR Agreements they call Peace Agreements 17:22  |  Linda Rivera 05/03/09
      43.   A lesson on appeasement to Roo, Linthwaite, Labhras, Roo, Johnboy 17:33  |  Sceptic 05/03/09
      44.   What are they doing? 17:37  |  Jacques 05/03/09
      45.   #35 Sceptic 17:53  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/03/09
      46.   #33 Jeff Northridge 17:59  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/03/09
      47.   Good for Britain! Let them talk to Hamas also! 18:20  |  Silvienne 05/03/09
      48.   Sceptic. It`s not appeasement 18:37  |  Roo 05/03/09
      49.   #42 Sceptic of Ashdod 18:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/03/09
      50.   English 19:08  |  Ze 05/03/09
      51.   Trust me! There are more Hezballah in London than in Beirut! 20:33  |  Alan SA 05/03/09
      52.   Breaking treaties, Roo 20:41  |  Sceptic 05/03/09
      53.   Shoe is on other foot now. Too tight?? 20:57  |  Zyg 05/03/09
      54.   #51, Alan SA... 20:57  |  Silvienne 05/03/09
      55.   The future belong to hizboallah the Brits are smart 21:21  |  Reza Shah 05/03/09
      56.   UK Hiz Talks 21:45  |  Aysha 05/03/09
      57.   ODIN Israel was established via the Balfour decleration & the UN 21:45  |  PETER SM 05/03/09
      58.   #24, Goldstein and change 21:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/03/09
      59.   REZA Shah Wait till the Hariri enquiry is over 22:03  |  PETER SM 05/03/09
      60.   I guess Britain needed more people to lie to them 22:16  |  UsedToPostHere 05/03/09
      61.   re: Johan Odin 22:18  |  UsedToPostHere 05/03/09
      62.   Silvienne dear- I said "Trust Me" 22:18  |  Alan SA 05/03/09
      63.   Sharia Law coming to a European city near you! 22:19  |  4:20 05/03/09
      64.   Islamists and Lebanon 22:30  |  Anonymous 05/03/09
      65.   quartet 22:32  |  ron 05/03/09
      66.   to Natallie Durson 22:36  |  Antonio da Silva 05/03/09
      67.   #12 Natallie Durson you are wrong 22:37  |  Victor 05/03/09
      68.   to Natallie Durson 22:39  |  Antonio da Silva 05/03/09
      69.   Sceptic and 1938 22:47  |  Roo 05/03/09
      70.   Pardon me, but..... 22:54  |  Abe 05/03/09
      71.   Anonymous alcohol in shia code just like drugs in your code 23:23  |  Reza Shah 05/03/09
      72.   Nathallie Durson; 2state solution:fig leaf for Israel destruction 23:39  |  Arthur 05/03/09
      73.   jacques: hezbollah learned not to attack Israel 23:40  |  Arthur 05/03/09
      74.   Peter SM the aussie killed Hariri 00:01  |  Reza Shah 06/03/09
      75.   #54 Sillyene USA...to Alan SA......... 00:08  |  Joe Moer 06/03/09
      76.   Silvienne,did your aunt tell you a different story? 00:08  |  Alan SA 06/03/09
      77.   PeterSM - History proves you wrong again 00:11  |  Johan Odin 06/03/09
      78.   W$hat a suprise 00:22  |  docd 06/03/09
      79.   The British are fast becoming an enemy of Israel 00:22  |  John 06/03/09
      80.   #64 00:43  |  Manahma 06/03/09
      81.   mi6 long since been talking to hezbollah 02:30  |  honey bunch 06/03/09
      82.   What political developments in Lebanon? 03:00  |  a wandering Jew 06/03/09
      83.   REZA SHAH.Great conspiracy.Angry Lebanese just let them go? 03:32  |  PETER SM 06/03/09
      84.   You`ve got to be kidding me 03:46  |  An American 06/03/09
      85.   Britain Hezbollah 04:30  |  Yussef al Achkar 06/03/09
      86.   #35 Sceptic - a poster-child for paranoia 04:33  |  Johnboy 06/03/09
      87.   Peter SM the aussie killed Hariri what else do you think 04:41  |  Reza Shah 06/03/09
      88.   #33 Jeff ha an epihany 04:46  |  Johnboy 06/03/09
      89.   Brits 04:48  |  John 06/03/09
      90.   #82 Care to think a bit more deeply, awJ? 05:05  |  Johnboy 06/03/09
      91.   Why talk to the puppet when England can talk to his Iranianmaster 05:07  |  Booo 06/03/09
      92.   Johan Odin showing his green background 05:16  |  Izzy 06/03/09
      93.   ODIN history proves Balfour&UN accepted &paved the way for Israel 05:16  |  PETER SM 06/03/09
      94.   185 of them rather go fishing 09:10  |  Marvin Gaye 06/03/09
      95.   Ridiculous comparisons to 1939 15:00  |  JC 07/03/09
      96.   this is an example of how far britain has stooped;befriending 03:19  |  glenna 14/03/09
      97.   Jalil...you`re right! Israel is well noted for making a desert 16:21  |  MMM 11/07/09
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