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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Hariri government wins Lebanon parliament vote |
| 2009-12-12 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's government won a resounding vote of confidence from parliament on Thursday, paving the way for his expected visit to Syria for talks with the country's president. Lebanon's new government, which backs Hezbollah's right to keep its arms, won the support of 122 of the 128-seat assembly. One deputy voted against while one abstained and four were absentees, speaker Nabih Berri said. The Parliament endorsed Hariri's government after a 3-day debate during which the issue of Hezbollah's arms was a heated topic. Christian MPs and ministers of the Hariri-led parliamentary majority voiced discontent over the clause, which states the right of "Lebanon, its government, its people, its army and its resistance" to liberate all Lebanese territory. But they nonetheless granted the cabinet their votes on Thursday. Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006, is commonly referred to as the resistance in Lebanon. But Hezbollah, which has two ministers in cabinet, regularly states its weapons are not open to discussion. It argues its arms are necessary to protect the country against any future aggression by Israel, which withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation. Hariri, a 39-year-old Sunni Muslim businessman, had been keen on securing the backing of his powerful Shiite rivals, who are close allies of neighboring Syria, to ensure a smooth launch for his administration. No date has been set for Hariri's expected trip to Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad, but Lebanese media said that it could be this month. |
| Posted by:Fred |