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Top Lebanese politician Hariri says won't surrender to Hezbollah
By News Agencies
Tags: Lebanon, Civil War, Hezbollah

A senior pro-government political leader in Lebanon, Saad al-Hariri, said on Tuesday his majority coalition would not surrender to Hezbollah, whose fighters have routed supporters of the Sunni-led government in Beirut.

"They simply are demanding that we surrender, they want Beirut to raise white flags... This is impossible," Hariri told a news conference.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army expanded its troop deployment to several tense areas around the country Tuesday, hours after it said soldiers will use force if needed to impose order after almost a week of clashes between the Western-backed government and Hezbollah-led opposition.
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Also Tuesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said that Iran's support for Hezbollah's coup in Lebanon will affect Tehran's relations with Arab and Islamic countries.

The rising sectarian tension in Lebanon between Shi'ite supporters of the opposition and Sunni backers of the government has left the army as the only neutral player to help end the current crisis.

The army, which is respected by the militant Hezbollah group, has played a central role in defusing the violence that started Wednesday by calling on armed supporters from both sides to leave the streets.

But it has remained neutral in the conflict and did not intervene as Shi'ite gunmen from Hezbollah overran much of west Beirut and the offices of Sunni
parliamentary majority leader Hariri.

The army's announcement Tuesday signaled that it could step up its involvement to bring an end to the country's worst internal fighting since the end of the civil war in 1990, which has left at least 54 people dead and scores more wounded.

Army units will prevent any violations, whether by individuals or groups, in accordance with the law even if this is going to lead to the use of force, said an army statement released late Monday.

One reason the army had largely stayed out of the fighting was the fear that its forces could break apart along sectarian lines as they did during the civil war.

The army statement said troops would prevent armed civilians from roaming the streets. The army called on all groups in the country to cooperate and said
its order would go into effect as of 6 A.M. Tuesday.

United States President George W. Bush expressed his support for the Lebanese army on Monday during an interview with Al-Arabiya television, saying Washington would continue to supply and train the country's forces.

"We want to make them better so they can respond," Bush said.

The president confirmed that the U.S. military has moved the destroyer USS Cole off the coast of Lebanon, but said it was part of a routine training mission that had been scheduled a long time before.

Hezbollah supporters and their allies were seen in several areas of Beirut on Tuesday, but none of them were carrying weapons. Streets in the capital were busy as more businesses opened, but schools and universities remained closed. Also, many roads were still blocked by opposition supporters, including the highway leading to the country's only international airport.

The tense areas where troops deployed early Tuesday included the northern city of Tripoli that witnessed heavy clashes the day before that left at least seven people wounded. Those clashes largely died down by Monday evening. The army also continued its deployment in the mountains overlooking Beirut and several neighborhoods in the capital.

Army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman is the consensus candidate for president and the army's success in calming violence in the country could enhance his chances of being elected.

Bush said in his interview that the U.S. would continue its support for the Lebanese government and keep up pressure on Iran and Syria, which back Hezbollah. The U.S. considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization and has repeatedly called on the militant group to disarm according to UN demands.

The president also called on Arab nations to support Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Arab foreign ministers met in Egypt on Sunday and pledged to send a delegation to Beirut to help find a solution. The delegation was expected in Beirut on Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy said in a statement Tuesday that because of the interruption in normal operations at Beirut airport, the embassy compound will begin receiving necessary supplies and materials via U.S. military helicopters.

The sole purpose for these helicopters is to ensure the continuous supply of the U.S. Embassy for operational needs, the statement said.

The recent unrest exploded out of a 17-month political deadlock between the government and the opposition as each jockey for power.

When the government sacked an airport security chief with alleged links to Hezbollah and declared the movement's private telecommunications network a threat to the state, the well-armed and highly organized militia responded.
Within days, Hezbollah and their allies swept through the city displacing
pro-government gunmen, as the army stood by.

The army has offered Hezbollah a compromise. It said the airport security chief would retain his post and recommended to the government that it reverse the decision on the phone network. The government has not yet responded to the recommendation.


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      1.   lets check the day schedule 04:33  |  larzbeach 13/05/08
      2.   No to Iran`s nuclear program. 07:16  |  Jean Van Daem 13/05/08
      3.   A lesson in 21st century arithmetic 07:17  |  Natallie Durson 13/05/08
      4.   hey larzbeach 07:39  |  vik 13/05/08
      5.   It is time the UN realized that it is Iran, a UN member state, 08:54  |  Aviho`am 13/05/08
      6.   What Was The Leb Army Doing All Last Week? Going Through ... 09:02  |  Lavi 13/05/08
      7.   Partners in crime 09:30  |  Analyst 13/05/08
      8.   If Hezbollah give it permission, that is 09:38  |  Clickfool 13/05/08
      9.   Thank your for your support 09:49  |  A Lebanese Christian 13/05/08
      10.   By the way fight Iran itself 09:54  |  Fghting Iran 13/05/08
      11.   Druze will avenge every drop of blood 09:54  |  Russ Wiseman 13/05/08
      12.   This will be interesting.. Lets see if Hezbollah will get its 10:32  |  awesome 13/05/08
      13.   #2, AVI, typical zionist BS 10:37  |  VIPER 13/05/08
      14.   For Jean van Daem, spouting his usual boring propaganda # 2 10:54  |  Clickfool 13/05/08
      15.   Maybe the Lebanese Army should wait another day. 11:08  |  Stephen. 13/05/08
      16.   Lebanon today, Jordan and Egypt tomorrow? 11:14  |  Michael 13/05/08
      17.   Druze Wiseman #11 11:16  |  northern neighbor 13/05/08
      18.   Things will keep going Iran`s way until Olmert is kicked out 11:40  |  Freethinker 13/05/08
      19.   druze will avenge evry drop of blood 12:05  |  Hizbo Man 13/05/08
      20.   Druze resistance is a small sample for what laying ahead.. 12:16  |  sinalco 13/05/08
      21.   #2 Are you thick or what? 12:51  |  Steven Todd 13/05/08
      22.   NASRALLAH GAVE THAT ORDER TO HIM 12:56  |  indrajaya 13/05/08
      23.   To No. 19 - Hezbo Man 13:08  |  Khaled 13/05/08
      24.   # 8 Clicky..more of the same 13:21  |  Lynn 13/05/08
      25.   Nasrallah`s Army says will use force from Tues. probably 13:21  |  Sima 13/05/08
      26.   # 19 Hizbo idiot...how very tolerant of you 13:24  |  Lynn 13/05/08
      27.   Hizbos are digging their graves 13:39  |  Eric 13/05/08
      28.   # 21 Steven Todd...where have you been? 13:48  |  Lynn 13/05/08
      29.   Give Lebanon to Hizbullah,PA to Hamas 13:51  |  Ronnie Wolman 13/05/08
      30.   Hezbollah will stop fighting 13:53  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/05/08
      31.   # 22 Indy....did he also give the Revolutionary Guard 13:54  |  Lynn 13/05/08
      32.   #5 Aviho...because of UNIFIL in the south 14:00  |  Lynn 13/05/08
      33.   I LOVE TO SEE NASRALLAH`S FINAL ROUND .the rest is daily politics 14:22  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 13/05/08
      34.   May God`s Will be done in Lebanon. My prayers are for their Army 14:26  |  and Government 13/05/08
      35.   to A Lebanese Christian 14:27  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/05/08
      36.   Hezbollah operating very astutely 14:27  |  Ben Alofs 13/05/08
      37.   The various and assorted Lebanese armies 14:52  |  Panther Jet 13/05/08
      38.   # 31, LYNN 14:54  |  indrajaya 13/05/08
      39.   Ignorant bigots. 15:06  |  Gordon D 13/05/08
      40.   #36 Ben Alofs - a supporter of Hezbollah? 15:14  |  Yonatan 13/05/08
      41.   #28 Lynn 15:21  |  Steven Todd 13/05/08
      42.   Herr Kliky not making sense 15:23  |  utagawa 13/05/08
      43.   the middle east mix master 15:37  |  Larzbeach 13/05/08
      44.   Appeasing Hezbollah 15:42  |  anonymous 13/05/08
      45.   Making agreements with hez are worthless 15:44  |  Anonymous 13/05/08
      46.   Ronnie Hello 15:46  |  Danite 13/05/08
      47.   Yonathan in kfarsaba 15:50  |  northern neighbor 13/05/08
      48.   Beyond the Politic 15:56  |  A dreamer 13/05/08
      49.   Sounds like pre World War I Balkans to me. Guess what came after? 16:00  |  common sense 13/05/08
      50.   Double messages 16:03  |  Jeff 13/05/08
      51.   # 41 Steven Todd.....yes, sanctions would have been done long ago 16:06  |  Lynn 13/05/08
      52.   Hegemony of Hizbo man #19 16:12  |  utagawa 13/05/08
      53.   NO... Really!! you mean the hizb Army 16:39  |  Tarek 13/05/08
      54.   #40 Yonatan 17:02  |  Ben Alofs 13/05/08
      55.   Gordon D...such a load of crap 17:06  |  Lynn 13/05/08
      56.   The Army will use force, but against whom? 17:10  |  Gee 13/05/08
      57.   #49 Common Sense 17:16  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/05/08
      58.   Ben Alofs nonsense 17:20  |  danite 13/05/08
      59.   #51 Lynn 17:23  |  Steven Todd 13/05/08
      60.   Hizbollah is very good organisation - they have full 17:57  |  17 13/05/08
      61.   Iran is not worse than the US in Lebanon 18:01  |  Fritz T. 13/05/08
      62.   Don`t blame Hizballah for the present crisis 18:07  |  Tosefta 13/05/08
      63.   Lebanon is a failed state 18:21  |  Anonymous 13/05/08
      64.   Said Hariri has already surrendered to Hezballah and Iran. 18:27  |  Fortuna Benmayor 13/05/08
      65.   the only `pressure` here is destruction of mullah regime 18:32  |  frenz 13/05/08
      66.   Once again the UK genius demonstrates his impeccable logic- 18:44  |  common sense 13/05/08
      67.   A lesson for Durson in 21st century reality 19:13  |  Joe Sittizen 13/05/08
      68.   Hariri - Lebanon`s True Leader! 19:21  |  Yu 13/05/08
      69.   #58 danite re:ben alofs 19:23  |  Sarah