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Hezbollah gunmen in Beirut earlier this month. (AP)
Last update - 11:07 23/05/2008
West backs Lebanese gov't capitulation to Hezbollah
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: Fouad Siniora, Hezbollah 

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday welcomed a Lebanese peace deal brokered by Qatar, an agreement that may have averted a new civil war in the Middle East.

The council said it "welcomes and strongly supports the agreement reached in Doha ... which constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis, the return to normal functioning of Lebanese democratic institutions, the complete restoration of Lebanon's unity and stability."

In the nonbinding statement, a French initiative, the council also urged the parties to implement all aspects of the agreement.
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Rival Lebanese leaders signed the deal on Wednesday to end 18 months of political conflict that had threatened to push the country into a new civil war.

The agreement, which was reached after six days of Arab-mediated talks, also paved the way for the election of a new president.


The declaration thus represents a Western stamp of approval to an agreement that is in practice a capitulation to Hezbollah demands, including a greater share of the political decision-making power in Lebanon.

The agreement was the culmination of weeks of turmoil, during which violent incidents initiated by Hezbollah, including the group's takeover of parts of Beirut, gripped the country.

According to the terms of the Doha agreement, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora will resign in the coming days; the commander of the army, Michel Suleiman, will be installed as president, and the government will comprise 30 ministers.

Most significantly, however, the agreement meets a key Hezbollah demand to reshape the structure of government representation. Members of the Shi'ite organization will account for one-third of the government ministers, plus an additional portfolio, thus enabling the group to veto any government decision. Hezbollah will now wield more political clout than it ever has in the past.

Despite enhancing Hezbollah's position within the Lebanese power structure, the U.S. will support the Security Council statement praising the agreement, which is viewed as a vehicle to promote the internal stability of the country.

The representatives of all Security Council member states are currently holding consultations over the precise language of the statement in hopes that the wording will be approved by consensus. One of the drafts being considered by the body includes an expression of gratitude to the Arab parties who worked in mediating the deal, among them the Arab League and Qatar.

One potential stumbling block over the final wording of the statement centers around the issue of whether to include references to prior Security Council resolutions passed in relation to Lebanon in recent years, including Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the Second Lebanon War.

Another Security Council resolution that is to be mulled is 1559, which includes a clause stipulating the decommissioning of weapons belonging to the various militia forces in the country. The U.S. and France insist on including mention of the resolution in the statement. Libya has stated its opposition, while Russia has also expressed reservations.

U.S. and U.K. say Hezbollah weaker after Beirut fighting
The United States and Britain said on Thursday they believed Hezbollah had been weakened by this month's fighting in Beirut despite the greater
influence the militant group gained in Lebanon's Cabinet.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband rejected the view that the show of force by Hezbollah had increased its power.

"Hezbollah lost something very important, which is any argument that it is somehow a resistance movement on behalf of the Lebanese people," Rice told reporters traveling with her and Miliband on a trip to her California hometown.

"What it is, is a militia that, given an opportunity, decided to turn its guns on its own people. It is never going to live that down," she said.

Miliband said Hezbollah had shown an "unacceptable" show of force in the streets which created an "illusion" of its power. More than 80 people were killed in the military campaign by Hezbollah amid fears of a return to full-scale civil war.

"What struck us in subsequent days is that the reaction of the people of Lebanon has been very negative about that. The guns of Hezbollah were trained on their own people. The long term consequences of that are potentially going to strengthen the forces of democracy in Lebanon," said Miliband.

Zvi Barel contributed to this story.

Related articles:
  • Lebanese relieved as standoff ends; Hezbollah supporters celebrate
  • Lebanon gov't challenges Hezbollah on weapons arsenal
  • Zvi Barel / Siniora's gov't will fall, the question is when
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      1.   only one explanation: u.s. annihilation of iran imminent. 21:13  |  frenz 22/05/08
      2.   Apocalyptic language and other twaddle 21:28  |  Mark Lincoln 22/05/08
      3.   The arrogance of the West 21:37  |  x 22/05/08
      4.   Congratulation to Lebanese people, Hizbullah and Nasrallah! 21:45  |  Joe 22/05/08
      5.   Iran and Hezbollah are a team 21:52  |  Wendy 22/05/08
      6.   To the victors go the spoils of war 21:52  |  Pablo B 22/05/08
      7.   Lebanon capitulation? 21:56  |  Realistic Arab 22/05/08
      8.   Both Israel and Saudia have a commmon interest against Iran 22:05  |  Joseph . E 22/05/08
      9.   Future of Lebanon. 22:08  |  Abdul Aziz Higazi 22/05/08
      10.   Viva Lebanon # 4 22:08  |  Peter 22/05/08
      11.   A logical outcome 22:11  |  Ben Alofs 22/05/08
      12.   #10 Peter 22:38  |  Joe 22/05/08
      13.   Pleased for Lebanon 22:42  |  Keith T. 22/05/08
      14.   Joe sve your congrats. Lebanon lost big, the way of the mullahs 23:09  |  steve 22/05/08
      15.   US and UK say Hezbollah weakened 23:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 22/05/08
      16.   To Peter: Viva Lebanon 23:30  |  Proud Jew 22/05/08
      17.   To Peter Part 2: Viva Lebanon 23:32  |  Proud Jew 22/05/08
      18.   Hezbollah DIDNT turn guns on their own people 23:39  |  Ahmed 22/05/08
      19.   Hezbollah DIDNT turn guns on their own people 23:45  |  Ahmed 22/05/08
      20.   To frenz from manchester 23:58  |  Lebanese in Canada 22/05/08
      21.   To #10 Peter 00:36  |  msh 23/05/08
      22.   Why am I not surprised? 00:45  |  Steven A. 23/05/08
      23.   big mistake 01:12  |  Joey 23/05/08
      24.   ahmed hizballah is a murderous organisation 01:17  |  talleyrand 23/05/08
      25.   Its the next step in the Hezbollah coup de`etat 01:20  |  Realist 23/05/08
      26.   #20 Lebanese in Canada 01:21  |  Ramius 23/05/08
      27.   Sunnis in Lebanon are doomed 01:26  |  Conroy 23/05/08
      28.   Hezbollah for Lebanon? Or for Shi`ites only? 01:57  |  Mike 23/05/08
      29.   #20 Lebanese in Canada 02:09  |  Expat 23/05/08
      30.   hezbollah weaker, ONLY if iran make it so... 02:12  |  bashar 23/05/08
      31.   Conroy 02:30  |  Ramius 23/05/08
      32.   talleyrand 02:44  |  Ramius 23/05/08
      33.   Israeli Arab driver critically hurt by guard at W. Bank settlemen 02:46  |  Iamashamed 23/05/08
      34.   US KEEPS LEBANESE ARMY WEAK 03:10  |  Arik Silverman 23/05/08
      35.   Zvi Barel reports false information 03:28  |  joe 23/05/08
      36.   Condi and spin 03:30  |  maoriboy 23/05/08
      37.   Nice SPIN: US and UK say Hezbollah weaker after Beirut fighting 04:07  |  Tupac 23/05/08
      38.   Hezbollah wasn`t weakend by the might IDF yet they were now 04:10  |  Tupac 23/05/08
      39.   16: Proud Jew: Sounds Like US and Israeli Leaders Too 04:19  |  Tupac 23/05/08
      40.   Christian community going forward in Lebanon 04:55  |  R. Gibara 23/05/08
      41.   Ahmed: Your Hezbos terrorists will bring the end of Lebanon 05:36  |  Dan 23/05/08
      42.   Plutocracies building case against major populations 05:42  |  Akiva P 23/05/08
      43.   Congratulations, cowards! 06:00  |  VLAD 23/05/08
      44.   hehe `peter` good try but no prize 06:37  |  x-ray 23/05/08
      45.   Is this the end of Lebanon? 07:52  |  Jean Van Daem 23/05/08
      46.   US Investments 09:30  |  MiddleStanian 23/05/08
      47.   For Frenz # 1 09:43  |  Clickfool 23/05/08
      48.   "Hezbollah wealened" 09:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/05/08
      49.   missing the salient point as usual 09:57  |  victor hardman 23/05/08
      50.   tupac is language challenged 10:29  |  yalibnan 23/05/08
      51.   If the US starts a war against Iran it will be ... 10:31  |  Edith 23/05/08
      52.   may i recommend the sahar al khatib video 10:37  |  yalibnan 23/05/08
      53.   the muslims in the west are like the hispanics 10:47  |  jebel tarak 23/05/08
      54.   And what about the arrogance of muslims?! 11:25  |  Leopard 23/05/08
      55.   Lebanon seeks to be taken seriously 11:40  |  Natallie Durson 23/05/08
      56.   The USA is at OPEC`s mercy as its economy falters 12:23  |  Johan Odin 23/05/08
      57.   stupid rice... 12:31  |  ravi 23/05/08
      58.   #49, victor hardman 12:40  |  Anton 23/05/08
      59.   leopard 54 12:41  |  northern neighbor 23/05/08
      60.   West has no choice after Hizbullah defeated IDF 13:36  |  Yossi Cronenberg 23/05/08
      61.   talleyrand/darcy/harzion #24 to ahmed 13:39  |  John Syracuse 23/05/08
      62.   #50 yalibnan 13:50  |  gearoid 23/05/08
      63.   Israeli Arab driver critically hurt by guard at W. Bank settleme 14:18  |  Aounist 23/05/08
      64.   # 59 northern neighbor...where are all the Muslim blogs 14:34  |  Lynn 23/05/08
      65.   # 50 yalibnan....I agree with you 14:38  |  Lynn 23/05/08
      66.   #63 Aounist your inane comment is as usual off topic 14:38  |  Joe Moer 23/05/08
      67.   yalibnan 14:45  |  yosushi 23/05/08
      68.   Milliband and Rice -masters of deception fool nobody except.... 15:15  |  John Syracuse 23/05/08
      69.   Lebanese Christians, Israel`s Jews BETRAYED by peace agreements 1 15:31  |  Linda Rivera 23/05/08