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Lebanese MP Walid Jumblatt (AP) Last update - 23:30 10/02/2008 Two hurt in Beirut gunfire after MP says coalition ready for war By The Associated Press Tags: Hezbollah, Lebanon, Druze MK  Gunshots were fired near the opposition-aligned Parliament speaker's residence in Beirut late Sunday and at least one person was shot and wounded in a pro-government stronghold in a mountain town hours after a leading politician warned the Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition his coalition was ready for war and willing to burn everything rather than submit. Police said a car opened fire on checkpoints guarding Speaker Nabih Berri's residence in Beirut's posh Muslim neighborhood of Ein el-Tineh late Sunday. Security forces protecting the official residence secured the area. No one was hurt. Advertisement Later at night, gunfire erupted in front of an opposition party's office in the mountain town of Aley east of Beirut, stronghold of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt of the pro-government majority. Police said at least one person was wounded but did not have details on how the brief shooting erupted. The opposition party said its office came under fire from cars belonging to Jumblatt's followers, prompting the guards to return fire. Jumblatt's group said its motorcade was fired upon and two passersby, including a young girl, were hurt. Jumblatt, a leading member of the anti-Syrian majority in parliament and a strong critic of Hezbollah, warned Sunday that his coalition is ready for war if that's what Syrian-backed opposition wants, adding that they would take Hezbollah's much-vaunted rockets away from it. "If you think that we will stand idle, this is your imagination. We might be forced to burn everything. Our existence, dignity and Lebanon are more important than anything," he said. "If you want anarchy, you are welcome. If you want war, we welcome war," said Jumblatt, who was interrupted several times by the cheers of hundreds of his supporters. Lebanon is in the midst of its worst political crisis since the end of its 1975-90 civil war. Former President Emile Lahoud left office on November 23 without a successor, and parliament has so far failed to elect the army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman to replace him amid bickering between the parliament majority and the opposition. Confrontational rhetoric by the pro-government groups has been on the rise in recent days as they prepare for a massive demonstration in Beirut Thursday to mark the third anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. "We have no problem with weapons, and no problems with rockets. We will take your rockets from you," Jumblatt said in an apparent reference to Hezbollah, which says it has thousands of different types of rockets, that have in the past been used against neighboring Israel. It was not clear what he meant with his comments, whether they were intended to show that the pro-government majority did not fear the guerrillas and their rockets or whether he planned to physically seize the rockets. On Thursday, Saad Hariri, the late prime minister's son and the leader of Lebanon's pro-Western parliament majority, pledged to stand firm against what he described as Syrian and Iranian attempts to undermine the country. "We have no choice ... but to be steadfast ... to prevent the collapse of Lebanon in the traps of the Syrian and Iranian regimes," Hariri said in a speech. While both the government and the opposition agree on electing army chief Suleiman as president, the opposition is holding up the final decision in effort to gain a greater measure of power in the future government. Related articles: IDF says Hezbollah Katyushas, missiles back in S. Lebanon Syria suspends ties with France over Lebanon crisis Lebanon's presidential election postponed for 14th time Bookmark to del.icio.us   All in the family Tel Aviv municipality moves to retain contract with Gaza City as 'twin city.' Pining for a leader A documentary examines Ariel Sharon's motive for the Gaza disengagement.   1.   Walid jamblatt is Hyperbole 19:35  |  Faris Zaidan 10/02/08   2.   My prayers are with the Lebanese people. 19:49  |  Virginia 10/02/08   3.   he is quite right. coordinate with eu, us, india, israel 21:27  |  anup 10/02/08   4.   GENUINE DEMOCRACY NEEDED 22:25  |  Arik Silverman 10/02/08

Today Online IAF kills top Hamas man; 2 brothers hurt in Sderot Qassam strike Responses: 93 PA negotiator: IDF escalation in Gaza will hurt peace talks Responses: 134 IDF: Hezbollah Katyushas, missiles back in S. Lebanon Responses: 61 Gaza and Israel - more like partners than enemies Responses: 50 Silvan Shalom: For Israel, sanctions on Iran are best option Responses: 23 Rosner's Domain Think Clinton won the Jewish vote in California? Think again McCain found a tool with which to woo conservative Republicans: Israel Why many Jewish men go beardless (WTR) New poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Factor: How's McCain better than Obama More Headlines 22:26 PM: Terror can't be wiped out in one fell swoop 22:03 Court rules to extradite alleged U.S. serial molester Mondrowitz 21:34 PA negotiator Qureia warns IDF escalation in Gaza will hurt talks 22:27 Hebron settlers and Arab clan chiefs hold 'reconciliation talks' 23:06 AG: Single-sex couples may adopt child not biologically related to them 21:12 Rabbis fear prayer to convert Jews will harm ties with Vatican 20:12 Tunisian-born Israelis win state compensation for Holocaust suffering 22:56 Sharon documentary examines reasons for 2005 Gaza pullout 21:11 IDF kills Gazan at border; brothers hurt in Qassam strike 22:57 Tel Aviv decides to retain contract with Gaza City as `twin city` 21:25 Northern border towns to strike after gov't nixes tax breaks 23:24 Ex-Dutch MP and Islamic critic Hirsi Ali seeks French nationality Previous Editions Select Day 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan

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