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Hezbollah Will Seek Partnership Government in Lebanon

   VOA News  23 January 2011

Photo: VOA - H. Murdock

   Pictures  of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah decorate the streets in
   many parts of southern Lebanon (File Photo)

   Hezbollah's  leader  in Lebanon says the group will seek a partnership
   government  if  its  candidate  for  premiership  wins a parliamentary
   majority.
   Sayyed  Hassan  Nasrallah  also said Sunday his group does not want to
   exclude any political party from the next government's cabinet.
   Earlier  this  month,  Hezbollah  and  its  allies  resigned  from the
   coalition  government  of  Prime  Minister  Saad Hariri, causing it to
   collapse.
   Lebanon's  interim government will begin parliamentary talks on Monday
   to choose a new prime minister. Â
   The  resignations  followed  tensions over a U.N.-backed investigation
   into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the
   father  of  the interim prime minister.  Media reports have indicated
   the  tribunal  will  indict  Hezbollah  members,  but the group denies
   having had a role in the attack.
   On  Saturday,  Lebanese  Forces  leader  Samir  Geagea  reiterated his
   support  for interim Prime Minister Hariri Saturday, a day after Druze
   leader Walid Jumblatt indicated his support for Hezbollah.
   Geagea  said his support for Mr. Hariri's candidacy was an alternative
   to backing former Prime Minister Omar Karami.  News reports have said
   Hezbollah intends to back Mr. Karami.  Geagea described Mr. Karami as
   corrupt and said he is influenced by Syria.
   On Friday, Jumblatt said he was backing Hezbollah in order to preserve
   national  stability. He leads a bloc of 11 parliament deputies, but it
   is not clear if they will follow his lead.

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