http://syriatimes.tishreen.info/_default.asp?FileName=87708738120061213111841
AL chief mediates an end to Lebanon standoff BEIRUT SyriaTimes first 13-12-2006 The head of the Arab League met Lebanese leaders on Tuesday in an effort to mediate an end to a political standoff between the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition. Amr Moussa was meeting leaders from both sides to seek a way out of a crisis which some fear could turn violent in a country that has gone through two civil wars in the past 50 years. ? "I don`t carry with me initiatives, but there are ideas that I hope to discuss," Moussa told reporters at Beirut airport. Asked if he was optimistic, he said: "There must always be hope." Moussa met Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, whose cabinet is supported by Washington, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, whose Amal Movement is part of the opposition. ? A Sudanese Arab League envoy on Monday made little progress in bridging the gap between the government and the opposition, which is demanding veto power in the cabinet. ? Parliamentary so-called ?majority? leaders who control the cabinet are refusing to give in. ? Hezbollah has branded the cabinet a U.S. government in Lebanon. ? "Hezbollah and the opposition are waiting for a few days for what the Arab effort will yield. But there is a feeling that matters will reach a dead end," analyst Rafik Nasrallah told Reuters. ? Anti-government protesters are spending a 12th consecutive day camped out in central Beirut, metres from Siniora`s offices, as part of a round-the-clock demonstration to press the opposition`s demands. ? The leaders who control the cabinet allege the opposition is trying to stage a coup against the government to derail plans for an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. ? Siniora`s cabinet on Tuesday met to refer to parliament a U.N. plan for the tribunal, one of the issues at the heart of the dispute between the government and Hezbollah. ? The opposition has declared the government and its decisions illegitimate since the resignation of opposition ministers on Nov. 11. ? Government posts in Lebanon are divided along religious lines to ensure representation for the country`s array of sects. President Emile Lahoud has also declared the cabinet illegitimate and on Saturday rejected the tribunal plans. +++ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
