 Last year's climate of political tension in Lebanon continues in the new year, as the government crisis remains unresolved and the Lebanese street continues to burn after an explosive testimony from former Syrian Vice-President Abdel-Halim Khaddam. Despite the delicate tones being used in official statements, the row between the Hizbullah-Amal alliance and the parliamentary majority is escalating while other political parties are growing impatient with the failure to break the political impasse.
| Of course the tension's growing. The pressure's just increased on Baby Assad... |
While negotiations are being held between the Shiite blocs and members of MP Saad Hariri's Future Movement, a divide has widened among Christian MPs and ministers demanding to be included in the dialogue. Fears are also mounting within Druze leader Walid Jumblatt's camp that a rapprochement favorable to Hizbullah's demands is in the works.
| Entirely possible, of course, since the Leb oligarchs have a habit of going for the short-term tactical gains, rather than the longer-term objectives... |
To quell these fears, Hariri affirmed the importance of consultations with his March 14 allies in a recent interview with a local daily, and vowed his alliance with Jumblatt would last "100 years."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora reaffirmed his commitment to realizing the return of the Shiite ministers who suspended their participation in the Cabinet. However, he also called for a Cabinet session this Thursday, with or without the Shiite ministers. |