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Hezbollah leader says no plans to control Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed on Monday that his movement was not seeking control of Lebanon, in a fiery speech on new President Michel Sulaiman's first full day in office.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 21:56 May 26, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Nasrallah addresses tens of thousands of flag-waving supporters in southern Beirut through video link, on the anniversary of Israel's pullout from south Lebanon eight years ago.
  • Image Credit: AP

Beirut: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed on Monday that his movement was not seeking control of Lebanon, in a fiery speech on new President Michel Sulaiman's first full day in office.

"Hezbollah does not want power over Lebanon, nor does it want to control Lebanon or govern the country,"Nasrallah told tens of thousands of flag-waving supporters in southern Beirut.

He also pledged that his powerful Shiite Muslim group would not use its weapons to achieve political gains, in a speech marking the anniversary of Israel's pullout from south Lebanon eight years ago.

"For we believe that Lebanon is a special, pluralistic country. The existence of this country only comes about through coexistence, and this is what we are demanding," he said via video link to the crowds.

Meanwhile, Sulaiman's office said the former army chief, would begin consultations with rival political blocs on Wednesday on forming a new 30-member cabinet.

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