Region | Lebanon
Crises-hit Lebanon lurches towards further instability
The Lebanese army deploys across mountains near Beirut after clashes in the area kill at least 36 people.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 13:13 May 12, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- A gunman fires during clashes between pro-government supporters and Shiite gunmen and their allies in Chouweifat.
Dubai: The Lebanese crisis headed towards further escalation yesterday as the ruling majority said it will not retract the two controversial decisions, at the centre of the current tension with Hezbollah, anytime soon.
The cabinet decision to dismantle Hezbollah's communication network and remove the head of the airport security sparked the crisis in which Hezbollah and its opposition allies took control over Beirut and much of the central mountainous areas.
Some 100 people died in the fighting between the rival factions, which started on Thursday, according to Beirut's newspapers.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Sunday said he would reconsider the decisions. There were also speculation that the Siniora government might resign. But yesterday, a leader of the ruling majority denied these reports.
"The government will not resign and Hezbollah will not achieve any gains by force," pro-government Christian leader Samir Geagea said. "The two decisions will not be discussed unless the situation returned to normalcy."
Opposition leader and Hezbollah ally Michel Aoun described the statement as an escalation and demanded "Siniora resign".
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In another sign of the deteriorating situation, the Saudi embassy in Beirut shut down on Monday and the ambassador left for Cyprus.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army deployed across mountains near Beirut on Monday after deadly clashes in the area, security officials said.
At least 36 people were killed and 26 others wounded in the town of Chouweifat near Beirut, the Lebanese Red Cross said.
In the capital, a minor clash broke out on Monday between government supporters and pro-Syrian gunmen in the busy Hamra district, security officials said.
Shops began opening in Beirut, although traffic was lighter than usual. Many schools and universities were still closed.
Major roads, including the main airport highway, were still blocked with huge sand barriers in what the opposition called a "civil disobedience campaign".
Arab meet
Arab foreign ministers met in Egypt on Sunday and pledged to send a delegation to Beirut. The delegation was expected in Beirut later on Monday.
Violence erupted last week when Lebanon's government declared Hezbollah's private telephone network illegal. Hezbollah's leader said it was a declaration of war.
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