Leaders resume talks in Lebanon

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-08-2006 08:44

In Lebanon, rival politicians have resumed round-table talks to debate Hezbollah's demands for an expanded national unity government. The talks follow last week's ultimatum by Hezbollah leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. He's threatening street rallies, unless the country's Western-backed Prime Minister, Fuad Saniora, expands his Cabinet, and gives more seats to Hezbollah and its allies.

The speaker of the house, Nabih Berri, insisted that, contrary to claims by the United States, there was no intention to topple the government, or the Prime Minister.

Instead, Berri has called for national unity, in efforts to rebuild the country after the Israeli war with Hezbollah in July left parts of Lebanon in tatters.

Nabih Berri, speaker of the house said, “We want all parties to bear responsibility, especially after the Zionist and the Israeli assaults on our country.”

Representatives from all major political parties were at the talks, except the leader of Hezbollah. Nasrallah is absent for security reasons, sending the head of his parliamentary bloc to represent him instead. Just last week, the leader demanded a Cabinet reshuffle in order to give Hezbollah and its allies a third of the 24 ministerial positions.

He's threatening mass, non-violent rallies to bring down the governmentif Prime Minister Saniora fails to meet his demands by mid-November.

However, a Christian faction that supports Saniora's government has also threatened to bring its supporters onto the streets, if Hezbollah should go ahead with its threat to stage protests.

 

Editor:Sun Luying