Region | Lebanon
Junblatt war talk raises tension
Lebanon's ruling majority escalated tension in the sharply divided country and raised the spectre of war.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:21 February 11, 2008
- "You want anarchy? (We) welcome anarchy. You want war? (We) welcome war," says Druze leader Walid Junblatt.
- Image Credit: EPA
Dubai: Lebanon's ruling majority on Sunday escalated tension in the sharply divided country and raised the spectre of war.
Ahead of Thursday's anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which led to Lebanon's worst political crisis since the 1975-90 civil war, a leader of the ruling majority said they were ready for war.
Addressing the opposition, led by Hezbollah, Druze leader Walid Junblatt said in a televised speech: "You want anarchy? (We) welcome anarchy. You want war? (We) welcome war," adding to the cheers of supporters that he and his allies, led by Hariri's son Sa'ad, have "no problem with weapons and rockets."
His statement came three days after Sa'ad Hariri said Lebanon was in "direct confrontation" with Syria and Iran, both support Hezbollah. "If our fate is confrontation, then we are for it," he said.
Hariri rally
Both men were seen as rallying their supporters to attend a rally on Thursday to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri's assassination.
The opposition on Sunday said it will not be dragged into conflict with the majority. "Junblatt has lost his mind," MP Ebrahim Kanaan, a senior aide to Aoun told an Arab television news channel.
Two wounded in firing
In Beirut, at least two people were injured when shots were fired in an altercation yesterday between supporters of Sa'ad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri's security services, AFP quoted an official as saying.
"A convoy from the Future movement was driving by Berri's residence. Apparently some heated words were exchanged with Berri's security service," the official said.
"Shots were heard and a passer-by was wounded by a stray bullet," he said, describing his condition as serious. He said a girl who was travelling in the party convoy was slightly injured.
Lebanon's crisis has exacerbated tensions between rival camps and led to the worst street violence since the civil war. It has also paralysed the government and left Lebanon without a president since November 23.
Several mediators failed to break the deadlock. Amr Mousa, Arab League chief, left Lebanon on Saturday after failing to get the rivals to agree on an Arab plan that would see the Army chief General Michel Sulaiman elected as a president.
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