Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Lebanon's PM Siniora Vows to Stay, Protests in Beirut Continue
--------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=720407&l=1009&ctl=15242E3:A6F02AD83191E1607303E525D9B1E4489574F7DCC14957C0 Demonstrators, in
the third day of protests, say they will remain camped out in central
Beirut until Mr. Siniora resigns





Lebanese supporters of the Hezbollah's major Christian ally, Michel
Aoun, hold the Lebanese flag and the orange Christian Aoun party flag
during an anti-governemnt protest in central Beirut 3 Dec.
2006Lebanon'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, 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.

The demonstrations began Friday with a rally that attracted hundreds
of thousands of people.

The Cabinet then voted to approve an international tribunal to try
suspects in the murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.  The
United Nations says there are 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 international tribunal. 

Mr. Siniora says his goverrnment will continue as long as it has the
support of parliament, where his anti-Syrian allies hold a majority.

The prime minister was to meet Sunday with Arab League
Secretary-General Amr Moussa on ways to defuse the crisis.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


.