Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Lebanon's New President Praises Hizbollah's Fight Against Israel

MESI

Lebanon's newly elected president praised Hizbollah's fight against Israel yesterday but said that there needed to be a dialogue about the future of its arsenal, addressing key demands of both the Iranian-backed militants and their political rivals.

Gen Michel Suleiman, 59, the army commander, was speaking after being elected unopposed in what was seen as a first step towards defusing an 18-month stand-off between the feuding political factions. More than 80 people have died in fighting. Celebratory gunfire erupted in Beirut after Nabih Berri, the parliamentary Speaker, declared that Gen Suleiman had won by securing 118 votes in the 128-member assembly.

The main challenge for Mr Suleiman will be to impose himself as a neutral figure and reconcile the Western-backed ruling coalition and the opposition, which is supported by Iran and Syria.

In his acceptance speech, he said he would seek friendly relations with Syria, Lebanon's former powerbroker which backs the opposition and has no formal diplomatic ties with its smaller neighbour.

"We cherish our relationship with Arab countries and seek brotherly ties with Syria based on mutual sovereignty and independence," Mr Sleiman said.

In a deal agreed last week in Qatar between rival Lebanese politicians, Gen Suleiman was accepted as a compromise figure. Bickering between the two camps had left the presidency vacant since the term ended of Emile Lahoud, a pro-Syrian, in November. Nineteen previous attempts to elect a successor failed.

The Doha deal was widely seen as a setback for Washington and its allies, which had pressed for Hizbollah to be disarmed, and sought to reduce the influence of Iran in the region.


The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/lebanon/2029169/Lebanon-president-praises-Hizbollah's-fight-against-Israel.html
Comment: And so it continues-no surprise, Hizzbollah put this man in the President's job. This truly demonstrates Iran's plan: surround Israel with the enemy. You know what is coming-will the West havethe courage to finally step up andtry to "save" the Lebonese people?

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