Lebanon's PM Siniora Vows to Stay, Protests in Beirut Continue
03 December 2006
Lebanon's prime minister says he will stay in office despite a continuing protest by Hezbollah-led demonstrators demanding the resignation of his Western-backed government.
Speaking today at his government headquarters, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said the crisis can be resolved only through negotiations. He called on parliament speaker Nabih Berri to revive a dialogue among Lebanon's rival factions.
As Mr. Siniora spoke, tens of thousands of anti-government activists, led by pro-Syrian Hezbollah, rallied outside. The demonstrators, in the third day of protests, say they will remain camped out in central Beirut until Mr. Siniora resigns.
In a sign of mounting tensions, a group of pro-Hezbollah Shi'ites clashed with Sunnis in a Sunni neighborhood of Beirut. At least four people were injured.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa arrived in Beirut for talks aimed at resolving the crisis.
The pro-Syrian factions are led by Hezbollah but also include some Christian groups like the Free Patriotic Movement, led by anti-Syria General Michel Aoun. The anti-Syrian groups include Sunni Arabs and other Christian factions.
The Hezbollah-led demonstrations began Friday with a rally that attracted hundreds of thousands of people.
Hezbollah and pro-Syrian Cabinet members left the government last month after calling for a greater say.
The Cabinet then voted to approve an international tribunal to try suspects in the murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. A United Nations inquiry has found indications that Syrian officials were involved in the killing.
Mr. Siniora's coalition accuses the opposition of conspiring with Syria to scuttle the creation of the tribunal.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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