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Last update - 15:34 19/11/2006
Lebanese Druze leader warns of possible 'coup' in country
By News Agencies

BEIRUT - Druze leader Walid Jumblatt warned Sunday that Lebanon is on the verge of a "coup" by pro-Syrian opposition groups, a day after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed the country's government of lack of credibility.

"The (pro-Syrian) opposition groups are on the verge of announcing a coup in the country and we (the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority) should take the brave decision to confront all options," said Jumblatt in an address to the politburo members of his group, the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP).

Jumblatt said, however, that there was still the possibility of a peaceful solution to the country's political divisions, in order to avert "a new civil war" that would recreate the 1975-1990 internal conflict.

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On Saturday, Hezbollah leader Nasrallah said the Lebanese government lacked credibility but denied his guerrilla group was trying to block the formation of an international tribunal.

Nasrallah blamed the regime of being "in a state of weakness and feel[ing] a huge defeat as the result of the last Israeli war in Lebanon," in a taped speech that aired Sunday on Hezbollah's TV station Al-Manar.

Nasrallah urged his followers in his speech to be "psychologically" ready to take to the streets in mass demonstrations to support Hezbollah's demand for a national unity government.

While he did not set a date for these demonstrations, he did encourage his followers to seek peaceful demonstration and to avoid violence.

Nasrallah's speech comes amid mounting political and sectarian tensions in Lebanon in the wake of Hezbollah's 34-day war with Israel last summer.

The militant group has demanded that Lebanon form a national unity government that would give it veto power over major decisions. But negotiations among groups broke down recently, and six Cabinet ministers, including two from Hezbollah, resigned.

Another source of tension is a draft agreement between the UN and the Lebanese government to establish an international tribunal to prosecute the suspected killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the draft on Monday.

The Lebanese government last week approved the draft agreement. But it was met with opposition from the country's pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, who said the government lacks legitimacy after the ministers resigned.

Hariri was killed with 22 others in a suicide truck bombing in February 2005. The assassination sparked huge protests against Syria, which was widely seen as culpable.

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  1.   OH PLease 15:29  |  Tatiana 19/11/06
  2.   Jumblatt threatens civil war 15:37  |  Michael 19/11/06
  3.   Hassan Nasrallah. 17:03  |  David Nigel Braham 19/11/06
  4.   Does Someone Speak the truth ? 18:08  |  Mike 19/11/06
  5.   Michael in Paris 18:35  |  rich 19/11/06
  6.   you people 19:56  |  fred 19/11/06
  7.   why its ok to have a jewish state? 19:56  |  fred 19/11/06
  8.   Lebanese decide to go east, Jordan is next.. 20:06  |  Harrak 19/11/06
  9.   surprised ? 20:14  |  benny 19/11/06
  10.   Afraid time to wake up passed long time ago 20:31  |  Victor_the_Egyptian 19/11/06
  11.   Re Michael in Paris 21:16  |  Lara 19/11/06
  12.   victory or defeat? 21:31  |  a reader 19/11/06
  13.   JUMBLATT, A PAPER TIGER AND HYPOCRAT, IS THREATENING CIVIL WAR?? 21:47  |  THE JACKAL 19/11/06
  14.   MICHAEL IN PARIS IS RIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 21:49  |  THE JACKAL 19/11/06
  15.   REAL DEMOCRACY !!!!! 21:52  |  carl 19/11/06
  16.   Lebanon 22:05  |  mona 19/11/06
  17.   Fred 22:39  |  betty 19/11/06
  18.   Fred, you`re only lying to yourself 22:45  |  Jake 19/11/06
  19.   to Carl #15 23:34  |  Miguel 19/11/06
  20.   Forget a coup, civil war`s coming to Lebanon 00:22  |  Dave 20/11/06
  21.   jumblat?????????????????????? 00:34  |  mark 20/11/06
  22.   Now nazzy`s saying Lebanon lost 00:38  |  Dave 20/11/06
  23.   Lebanon left hezzy armed to avoid civil war so look what happened 00:43  |  Dave 20/11/06
  24.   Lebanon should welcome coup by pro-Syrian groups 00:48  |  Dave 20/11/06
  25.   No Civil War & No Coup 00:52  |  Mary 20/11/06
  26.   Boy Carl are you dumb 01:06  |  Dave 20/11/06
  27.   Sunni vs Shiite demonstrations 01:49  |  Dave 20/11/06
  28.   lebanon won`t spill it`s own blood again 20:02  |  mgb 20/11/06
  29.   lebanese civil war 01:36  |  dave 21/11/06
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