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Lebanon's Hezbollah Calls for Sit-In Protest to Demand New Government
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Militant group had threatened mass protest last week, but postponed it
following assassination of anti-Syrian politician





Lebanese sit in coffee shop to watch speech of Hezbollah Leader Hassan
Nasrallah, 30 Nov. 2006 Lebanon's Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah and
its allies have called for a mass protest on Friday to demand a new
government.

The groups issued a statement Thursday, calling for a peaceful sit-in
protest in central Beirut.

The Hezbollah-led opposition had threatened a mass protest last week,
but postponed it following the November 21 assassination of
anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel.

Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies say Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad
Siniora's government violates power sharing arrangements. Earlier this
month, six ministers from the Hezbollah and Amal parties quit the
government because demands for more power were not met.

In other development, Lebanon's government earlier this week formally
backed plans for a U.N. international court to try suspects in the
2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri - a move that
angered the pro-Syrian opposition.

A U.N. investigation into the Hariri murder implicated several
pro-Syrian security officials. Supporters of the late prime minister
accuse Syria of direct involvement. Damascus denies the charge.

The U.N. Security Council says the Hariri court could also help with
the investigation into the Gemayel killing.

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

 


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