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Students at a university run by Hezbollah listen to a speech by the group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, during a graduation ceremony in a Beirut suburb on Sunday. (Reuters)
Last update - 00:00 08/04/2007
Nasrallah vows Hezbollah will stay armed to offset Israel
By The Associated Press

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, on Sunday vowed that Hezbollah will keep its weapons until a strong Lebanese army capable of defending the country against Israeli attacks is established.

The Hezbollah leader apparently was responding to repeated calls by the country's anti-Syrian parliamentary majority for his group to disarm in line with a UN resolution that ended last summer's Israel-Hezbollah war.

"The only solution is that there must be a strong state and a strong army capable of confronting any Israeli aggression on Lebanon," he said.
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Nasrallah also said Sunday that a dialogue among feuding Lebanese leaders has failed to resolve the country's political crisis and proposed a public referendum or early parliamentary elections as a way out of the four month long stalemate.

Nasrallah spoke at a ceremony in south Beirut marking the graduation of more than 1,700 Hezbollah supporters from Lebanese universities. After his speech that lasted more than an hour, he handed certificates to the graduates during the ceremony attended by thousands of people.

The latest bilateral dialogue has reached a dead end, Nasrallah said, referring to last month's meetings between Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an opposition leader aligned with Hezbollah, and Saad Hariri, the leader of parliament's pro-government majority.

"When we reach a deadlock, the only logic is to resort to the people who are the source of power, rather than resorting to the outside world because the outside world is a party (to the conflict) and is supporting a party," Nasrallah said, referring to Arab and Western countries that support the Lebanese government.

There are two democratic formulas in the world: either a Lebanese public referendum on a solution or early parliamentary elections, the black-turbaned Shiite cleric added.

Anti-Syrian parties, who do not support neighboring Damascus' involvement in Lebanese affairs, won a majority in the 128-member legislature during the 2005 parliamentary elections and have rejected the opposition's demand for early elections. The next elections are due in 2009.

The Hezbollah-led opposition has been campaigning with protests and sit-ins since Dec. 1 in downtown Beirut - just outside the prime minister's office - to try to force him to resign or share power in a national unity Cabinet that would give the opposition veto power.

U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fouad Saniora has refused to resign. Hariri and his allies in the anti-Syrian coalition have rejected the opposition's demand for Cabinet veto power on key decisions, calling it a political suicide.

Nasrallah said he will no longer accept the opposition's demand for 11 seats in a 30-member Cabinet, saying such an offer is silly and weak.

The Berri-Hariri meetings came after months of dispute in which feuding politicians traded insults and their supporters clashed in the streets, leading many to fear that the country was returning to the violence of the 1975-90 civil war. Political and sectarian tensions turned violent in January, with nine people were killed in street clashes.

Berri last week called on Saudi Arabia to host a conference of rival Lebanese leaders to reach a solution to the crisis. But this was rejected by pro-Saniora leaders who insisted the country reach its own solution before going to Saudi Arabia.

In his speech, Nasrallah rejected claims that Hezbollah, which has refused to hand over its weapons to the government, was acting like a state within a state
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  1.   Nasrallah should be run out of Lebanon 22:29  |  GZLives 08/04/07
  2.   Shut up Nasrallah - You`re a TRAITOR 22:53  |  Akram - Paris/Beirut 08/04/07
  3.   hate Hezbollah ideology, but theyre right, Israel=terrorist state 22:58  |  anti-racist 08/04/07
  4.   Nasrallah 22:58  |  Dik 08/04/07
  5.   Confronting any Israeli aggression on Lebanon 22:59  |  Dan 08/04/07
  6.   You`re the MAN 23:03  |  Liban 08/04/07
  7.   Strong UN army needed to restore and keep peace in Lebanon 23:08  |  Anonymous 08/04/07
  8.   Isreali Aggression Like Reacting to Kidnapping Israeli Soldiers 23:24  |  Brad 08/04/07
  9.   The Lebanon must get rid of it`s cancer 23:25  |  ScotGuy 08/04/07
  10.   #1 Suck my left nut... 23:33  |  Ahmad031 08/04/07
  11.   Hiz 23:37  |  Allah 08/04/07
  12.   re: GZ #1 23:37  |  Paulo 08/04/07
  13.   Democracy...A concept he negelects 23:38  |  Ryan 08/04/07
  14.   Nasrallah and Hesbollah huge liability for Lebanon. 00:04  |  Esther 09/04/07
  15.   To: Israel, Syria, Iran and Hizballah! 00:14  |  GK (Lebanese) 09/04/07
  16.   Lebanon will have nothing to fear from Israel 00:40  |  Joey 09/04/07
  17.   Nasrallah is right on just one point 00:41  |  christa 09/04/07
  18.   Don`t cry for me Lebanon 00:52  |  Anonymous 09/04/07
  19.   #1 zionists and alike should leave Palestine 00:52  |  aaron levi 09/04/07
  20.   Since hezbollah is not complying with ceasefire.. 00:59  |  future1 09/04/07
  21.   pff!!! 01:08  |  liz 09/04/07
  22.   Lebonon should arrest him 01:12  |  Joseph 09/04/07
  23.   funny? 01:12  |  linda 09/04/07
  24.   funny? 01:12  |  linda 09/04/07
  25.   ahmad031 01:17  |  another canadian 09/04/07
  26.   I pity lebanese Christians 01:18  |  Free man 09/04/07
  27.   hizbullah:an isreali creation! 01:19  |  randy 09/04/07
  28.   To Paulo Al Manar 01:26  |  Dan 09/04/07
  29.   Hizbollah 01:30  |  Scope 09/04/07
  30.   Read Animal Farm by George Orwell 01:36  |  Anonymous 09/04/07
  31.   Utopia 01:41  |  Anonymous 09/04/07
  32.   And what does the Lebanese army have to say about this? 01:59  |  Andrew 09/04/07
  33.   #27 Randy, you`re very selective in your facts 02:08  |  Nathan 09/04/07
  34.   My Dear Cousins 02:14  |  South Lebanon 09/04/07
  35.   To Liban 02:28  |  Lee 09/04/07
  36.   The Lebanon situation in a nut shell 02:36  |  Mark Lincoln 09/04/07
  37.   to libian # 6on "joining the 21 century without creating any war" 02:38  |  terrornator 09/04/07
  38.   re: Andrew 02:42  |  Efox 09/04/07
  39.   who killed more kids or women 03:13  |  peace 09/04/07
  40.   nasrallah 03:23  |  sam 09/04/07
  41.   free man 03:31  |  haidara 09/04/07
  42.   To Peace 03:45  |  Lee 09/04/07
  43.   To Randy 03:55  |  Lee 09/04/07
  44.   who attacked who, Hisb attacked Israel, which was behind UN lines 04:02  |  Steve 09/04/07
  45.   #12, Paulo 04:15  |  Peter Burman 09/04/07
  46.   Efox in Soccorro 04:16  |  Peter Burman 09/04/07
  47.   To Ahmed0031 04:29  |  ottomatik 09/04/07
  48.   # 30 Better idea, read yalibnan.com 04:39  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  49.   the so called state of israel would love to have 1 LIKE NASSRALLA 05:02  |  TRUTH 09/04/07
  50.   re:#10 AH- MAD 05:06  |  shimon 09/04/07
  51.   Lebanese:You are in danger. HEZB. shouldn`t be tolerated 05:22  |  Vittorio 09/04/07
  52.   #39 Peace? 05:29  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/07
  53.   I`m sick of Islamic back stabbers/moochers 05:46  |  John Doring 09/04/07
  54.   To Nathan Boston 05:47  |  Southern Lebanon 09/04/07
  55.   21st Century 05:49  |  Frankie 09/04/07
  56.   Either UN dismantle HEZB, or UN should confess "UN are HELPLESS" 05:54  |  Vittorio 09/04/07
  57.   to #1 06:25  |  Sami 09/04/07
  58.   Paulo: You forgot your medication this morning 07:43  |  Brad 09/04/07
  59.   Mark Lincon in a Nutshell 07:48  |  Brad 09/04/07
  60.   UN should implement 242, 336 ... 07:57  |  Democracy 09/04/07
  61.   Lebanese Military Equipment 08:00  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/04/07
  62.   IT`S ONLY NATURAL 08:36  |  indrajaya 09/04/07
  63.   opinion 08:47  |  gasso 09/04/07
  64.   Go t`hell Siniora!! AND his supporters! 09:34  |  Allen 09/04/07
  65.   The source of all evil 09:55  |  Rodrigo 09/04/07
  66.   Watching Sheikh Hassan and the students is PAIN 10:07  |  Atilla Karagozoglu 09/04/07
  67.   # 7 Anonymus 10:12  |  christa 09/04/07
  68.   # 33 Nathan 10:22  |  christa 09/04/07
  69.   Dan # 5 youre wrong 10:27  |  christa 09/04/07
  70.   Good Bless Hassan Nassralla 10:31  |  Adel 09/04/07
  71.   The UN is a joke 10:36  |  Dhimmi Hendrix 09/04/07
  72.   Response for GK(Lebanese)#15 10:54  |  Esther 09/04/07
  73.   TRUTH # 49 11:09  |  Eli 09/04/07
  74.   Hezbullah 11:25  |  Barrie 09/04/07
  75.   A state within a state 11:52  |  Yonatan 09/04/07
  76.   THIS FOOL FORGOT HIS LESSON 11:55  |  reuven 09/04/07
  77.   Nasrallah is a Lebaneser problem 12:08  |  Yonatan 09/04/07
  78.   Nasralla`s last straw 12:11  |  Dania 09/04/07
  79.   new policy 12:11  |  golani 09/04/07
  80.   Hezbullah 12:13  |  mofaz 09/04/07
  81.   Nasrallah. 12:14  |  David Nigel Braham 09/04/07
  82.   To number 49. 12:19  |  David Nigel Braham 09/04/07
  83.   # 70, ADEL 12:41  |  indrajaya 09/04/07
  84.   # 70, ADEL 12:41  |  indrajaya 09/04/07
  85.   # 70 Adel 12:42  |  J. B. 09/04/07
  86.   # 70, ADEL 12:43  |  indrajaya 09/04/07
  87.   re: Dan #28 12:47  |  Paulo 09/04/07
  88.   re: Ryan #13 12:50  |  Paulo 09/04/07
  89.   # 54 Southern Lebanon 12:54  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  90.   re: Peter #45 13:10  |  Paulo 09/04/07
  91.   To Sheikh Nasrallah ,Mr Siniora.Gen Aoun ,Dr Geagea, 13:12  |  Lebanese People 09/04/07
  92.   re: Brad #58 13:16  |  Paulo 09/04/07
  93.   #84 al-Paulo 13:27  |  Yonatan 09/04/07
  94.   Pablo #84 13:36  |  Sarah 09/04/07
  95.   Adel 13:39  |  Sarah 09/04/07
  96.   Nasrullah has ambitions 13:40  |  sigh 09/04/07
  97.   Did "brave" mole got out from his bunker during speach,or 13:50  |  dzone 09/04/07
  98.   Nasrallah`s speech? 13:52  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  99.   #87 Paulo 14:03  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  100.   # 70 from Bahrain 14:05  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  101.   # 53 John of Florida 14:10  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  102.   Nasrallah is "allie to Israel" 14:10  |  Benlolo 09/04/07
  103.   Lebanon for the lebanese 14:13  |  M 09/04/07
  104.   #1 GZLives Why should NASRALLAH 14:22  |  Brad 09/04/07
  105.   Israel PM 14:28  |  Cohen 09/04/07
  106.   #4 Dik 14:35  |  Bill Van V 09/04/07
  107.   Good Old PAULO, Nice to read all your POSTS 14:40  |  Stanley 09/04/07
  108.   Paulo - Have you shared with us your opinion that we have 14:45  |  Avi 09/04/07
  109.   it must be the ghost of mussolini INHABITING THE BODY OF NASRALLA 14:46  |  paul harris 09/04/07
  110.   #77 .Yonathan.Who will pay the $$$ 10M. The Us Tax Payers? 15:07  |  Ahmad 09/04/07
  111.   Avi 103/ AgreeIsrael is a member state of UN.... 15:12  |  09/04/07
  112.   Avi103/ Agree with you that Israel is a member State of the UN 15:25  |  Rachel 09/04/07
  113.   # 101 Bill from Amsterdam 15:27  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  114.   #94 Sarah. Simple Answer, 15:34  |  Jane 09/04/07
  115.   Stanley 15:41  |  Sarah 09/04/07
  116.   scotguy#9 15:45  |  rabbi burns 09/04/07
  117.   #7 Anonymous of Chicago.How is that?? 15:49  |  Michelle A 09/04/07
  118.   #107 ANOTHER GLASS OF JAMIESONS STANLEY 15:51  |  paul harris 09/04/07
  119.   #Scotguy. Us Lebanese are happy to have HIZB. 15:53  |  Fuad 09/04/07
  120.   #33 Nathan 15:54  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  121.   Atilla Karagözoğlu 15:56  |  Happy Easter!! 09/04/07
  122.   # 111 - Are you Paulo? If so, why not say so, and if not, 15:59  |  Avi 09/04/07
  123.   Rachel - I am glad that you do recognize Israel`s right to 16:11  |  Avi 09/04/07
  124.   #11.Sc./Sh of nowhere 16:11  |  Sulleyman 09/04/07
  125.   #109 Paul Harris 16:12  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  126.   Jane #114 16:18  |  Sarah 09/04/07
  127.   #102 Benlolo 16:19  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  128.   #14 Esther Hizb. born because of the Lebanese OCCUPATION. 16:24  |  Fred 09/04/07
  129.   #88 Paulo 16:26  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  130.   As Nasrallah trys to justify his sad existant 16:29  |  Shepherd 09/04/07
  131.   # 199 Fuad 16:31  |  ChanahS 09/04/07
  132.   to "profound" Sarah and Stanley 16:35  |  Sabina 09/04/07
  133.   #56 Vittorio 16:39  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  134.   The UN either dismantles Hezbollah or 16:42  |  Kipperraes 09/04/07
  135.   #70 Lynn 16:47  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  136.   103#Lynn Just to name 2, Ron and Arnold. 16:53  |  Bill 09/04/07
  137.   #115 Sarah Paulo is doing a good JOB, I can see... 16:59  |  Stanley 09/04/07
  138.   re: Yonatan #93 17:03  |  Paulo 09/04/07
  139.   The Lebanese Army`s Equippment - Mark of Lewiston 17:13  |  Mark Lincoln 09/04/07
  140.   To #89 17:26  |  Southern Lebanon 09/04/07
  141.   to Happy Easter ! 17:27  |  Atilla Karagozoglu 09/04/07
  142.   re: Rodrigo #65 17:29  |  Paulo 09/04/07
  143.   Re #117 mano a mano 17:33  |  Not Mel Brooks 09/04/07
  144.   #50 Shimon 17:37  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  145.   #58 Brad 17:49  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  146.   #25 Another Canadian 17:57  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  147.   #73 18:06  |  Eli 09/04/07
  148.   JOHN FROM FLORIDA 18:07  |  Ahmad031 09/04/07
  149.   TO SHLOMO 18:17  |  Ahmad031 09/04/07
  150.   #26"Free Man" 18:19  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  151.   #123 Mark Lincoln 18:28  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  152.   Dan natanyahu was in power... 18:32  |  Ahmad031 09/04/07
  153.   to Nathan 18:36  |  Sabina 09/04/07
  154.   # 119 Fuad 18:46  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  155.   #10 Ahmad---Hear, Hear!!!! 19:02  |  tad 09/04/07
  156.   # 123 Bill 19:05  |  Lynn 09/04/07
  157.   #37 Terrornator; learn the facts and learn to spell! 19:07  |  tad 09/04/07
  158.   Black clothes 19:25  |  Pedro 09/04/07
  159.   Salam Alechem: Samlamu Alaykum. peace 19:27  |  naji 09/04/07
  160.   It is Actually Quite Simple 19:38  |  Yitzhak 09/04/07
  161.   Peace Through Strength - Mark Lincoln 20:04  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/04/07
  162.   to Kipperraes 20:13  |  Sabina 09/04/07
  163.   Lebanon is no more. 20:14  |  Chick Corea 09/04/07
  164.   #120 Wissam, sure I can inform you 20:29  |  Nathan 09/04/07
  165.   RIGHT ON NASRALLAH !!! 20:36  |  Dutch 09/04/07
  166.   To #5 20:40  |  Rana 09/04/07
  167.   to terrornator 20:50  |  Sabina 09/04/07
  168.   Fuck Hezbollah 21:02  |  Mohammad 09/04/07
  169.   Atilla Karagozoglu 21:47  |  Happy Easter!! 09/04/07
  170.   Nasrallah a Puppet for Iran&Syria 21:52  |  Lebanese Amarican 09/04/07
  171.   Haaretz 21:57  |  Westwell 09/04/07
  172.   #138 Nathan 22:03  |  Wissam 09/04/07
  173.   here is an offer !!! 22:10  |  ATILLA KARAGOZOGLU 09/04/07
  174.   Mark Lincoln and carts and horses 22:13  |  Jacob Blues 09/04/07
  175.   #141 Daffy Dutch 22:14  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/07
  176.   Photo -Portent of things to come 22:19  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/07
  177.   #7 Anonymous - Storong UN Army is an OXYMORON 22:23  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/07
  178.   last post 22:34  |  Atilla Karagozoglu 09/04/07
  179.   haaretz ! respect MY ANGER TONIGHT 22:42  |  Atilla Karagozoglu 09/04/07
  180.   Sabina 22:44  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/07
  181.   #49 Truth? 22:48  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/07
  182.   will someone please explain this to me 23:10  |  Daniel 09/04/07
  183.   Hold It!!! 23:29  |  Wisdom of Solomon 09/04/07
  184.   response to Sabina 23:32  |  Kipperraes 09/04/07
  185.   response to Sabina 23:32  |  Kipperraes 09/04/07
  186.   #142 DORIS IS LOST FOR WORDS ? ABOUT TIME TOO 23:37  |  paul harris 09/04/07
  187.   Hezbollah Origins 00:14  |  Double Click 10/04/07
  188.   To Daniel #147 - Refresher Course in History 00:35  |  Double Click 10/04/07
  189.   149#Kipperraes. This useles Organization is the one 01:05  |  Fred 10/04/07
  190.   Brave words from a bunker in Iran. 01:07  |  chick corea 10/04/07
  191.   Siniora: I deny any responsibilty , just give me money 01:22  |  Joseph E . 10/04/07
  192.   #8, your response unfortunately proves #3`s point 01:33  |  Jake 10/04/07
  193.   #132 Ahmad031 01:38  |  Eric 10/04/07
  194.   Making Peace - Mark of Lewiston 01:41  |  Mark Lincoln 10/04/07
  195.   Thank you Israel 01:49  |  $$$ 10/04/07
  196.   So Eric send us all to Syria... 02:28  |  Ahm 10/04/07
  197.   So Eric send us all to Syria... 02:33  |  Ahmad031 10/04/07
  198.   History Lesson 02:53  |  Double Click 10/04/07
  199.   $$$: rephrase please? 03:36  |  Ahmad031 10/04/07
  200.   NASRALLAH IS A LEBANESE CITIZEN!! 03:48  |  Ahmad031 10/04/07
  201.   Thanks double click 03:52  |  Ahmad031 10/04/07
  202.   Chick (North)Korea... 04:00  |  Ahmad031 10/04/07
  203.   #150 daniel, double click, not the reason 04:11  |  Ahmad031 10/04/07
  204.   Ryan is Mistaken 07:01  |  Reader 10/04/07
  205.   terrornator this 07:21  |  Reader 10/04/07
  206.   Tired of Supporting Israel 07:28  |  Reader 10/04/07
  207.   Response to Peter Burman 07:30  |  Reader 10/04/07
  208.   Eric 17:47  |  Fellow Canadian 10/04/07
  209.   viva hezbollah! 21:38  |  joe fiasco 10/04/07
  210.   A new name for Nasrallah`s crew 05:34  |  Mike 11/04/07
  211.   hezbollah 20:31  |  osman 30/07/07
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