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At Vital Moment, Lebanon Paralyzed by Political Conflict

Reuters

   BEIRUT - The political repercussions of a deadly shooting in Lebanon
   have paralyzed government at a critical moment and risk complicating
   efforts to enact reforms needed to steer the heavily indebted state
   away from financial crisis.

   Two aides of a government minister were killed in the shooting when his
   convoy passed through a village in the Chouf mountains a month ago, an
   incident he declared an assassination attempt by adversaries. They deny
   the accusation.

   With major parties in Lebanon's national unity government involved,
   Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri has been unable to convene a cabinet.
   Efforts to mediate a way out of the standoff are deadlocked over which
   court should hear the case.

   The minister involved is Saleh al-Gharib, an ally of Druze politician
   Talal Arslan who is close to Damascus and enjoys the backing of the
   heavily armed Shi'ite Hezbollah. Arslan holds the party of Druze leader
   Walid Jumblatt responsible for the bloodshed.

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