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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Gemayel wants prompt Hizbullah disarmament talks |
2005-03-31 |
![]() The opposition - a collection of Sunni Muslim, Christian and Druze groups united by the February 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri - has remained broadly united over calls for Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon. But analysts say differences may emerge over issues such as how to deal with Hizbullah, which proved its popularity by leading big pro-Syrian demonstrations. Hizbullah fighters, who helped force Israeli troops out of South Lebanon in 2000, still control some border areas that the United Nations says the Lebanese Army should now take over. Leading opposition member and Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt said after talks with Hizbullah on Sunday that any disarmament discussion was off the agenda until Israel withdrew from a disputed border area, known as Shebaa Farms. But Gemayel said disarmament should happen before a withdrawal takes place. "There is a legal dispute about the Shebaa Farms and we have to deploy the Lebanese Army regardless of the problem," he said from his office in Christian east Beirut. |
Posted by:Fred |