Hezbollah says Lebanon 'declares war'

Friday 09th May, 05:30 AM JST

BEIRUT —

Deadly gunbattles erupted in Beirut on Thursday after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah charged that a Lebanese government crackdown on his group was tantamount to a “declaration of war,” stoking fears of a full-blown sectarian conflict.

The international community launched urgent appeals for calm in the deeply divided country after two days of clashes between rival political factions that signaled a major escalation in a bitter 18-month power struggle.

At least seven people were killed and dozens wounded in shootouts between supporters of the Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition in several mixed Sunni and Shiite Muslim districts of the capital, hospital and security officials said.

Hezbollah flatly rejected proposals by the government bloc to end the fierce sectarian clashes, the militant group’s Al Manar television reported late Thursday, as sporadic shooting and loud explosions could still be heard in the capital.

An official at Beirut’s Makassed hospital said at least 30 wounded people had been brought in, and four were in a critical condition.

“We have been overwhelmed by the number of injured coming in,” the official said.

The United States delivered a blunt warning to the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah to stop its “disruptive activities” while the United Nations voiced its “deep concern” over the crisis.

In scenes ominously reminiscent of the 1975-1990 civil war, Beirut’s streets were virtually deserted as loud explosions and gunfire rang out, while gunmen, some hooded, fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.

Nasrallah delivered his fiery speech on the second day of anti-government protests which saw supporters of the feuding factions block roads with blazing tires and force the closure of Lebanon’s international airport.

“The government decisions are tantamount to a declaration of war and the start of a war… on behalf of the United States and Israel,” Nasrallah charged during a rare press conference.

The government on Tuesday launched a probe into a private communications network run by the powerful Shiite movement, which is seen in the West as a terrorist outfit and which critics say has become a “state within a state.”

“The hand that touches the weapons of the resistance will be cut off,” Nasrallah warned. “We have the right to confront he who starts a war with us by defending our rights and our weapons.”

Nasrallah said Hezbollah was ready for dialogue but demanded the government rescind its measures against his movement.

“Hezbollah needs to make a choice: Be a terrorist organization or be a political party, but quit trying to be both,” said US national security council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. They need to stop their disruptive activities now.”

He said U.S. President George W Bush would discuss the turmoil when he meets Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora in Egypt next week during a Middle East tour.

Security Council members were “deeply concerned” about the unrest, said John Sawers, Britain’s U.N. ambassador and the current council president. “They stress the need to uphold the security and sovereignty of Lebanon and express their support for the constitutional institutions of the country.

Regional powers Saudi Arabia and Egypt voiced support for the Siniora government and Arab League chief Amr Mussa, who has embarked on several missions to try to resolve the crisis, urged Lebanon’s leaders to avoid any further escalation.

Former colonial power France described the renewed fighting as “worrying” and called for restraint, while the United Arab Emirates began evacuating its nationals from Beirut.

The latest unrest erupted on Wednesday during a general strike over price increases and wage demands which quickly degenerated into a confrontation between political rivals.

“If this situation continues, everyone will lose and this will affect the unity of the military,” warned the army command, which is refraining from becoming directly involved in the clashes.

U.N. Middle East envoy Terje Roed Larsen told the Security Council that Hezbollah’s separate paramilitary infrastructure “constitutes a threat to regional peace and security.”

Israel, which fought a devastating war with Hezbollah in 2006, said it had no comment on the events in its northern neighbor, with foreign affairs spokesman Arye Mekel bluntly stating: “It’s none of our business.”

Many schools and businesses remained shut and most flights were canceled although an airport official said eight planes had taken off in the afternoon.

The crisis has left the country without a president since November, when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud stepped down.

While the rival factions have agreed to the election of army chief Michel Sleiman, they disagree on the make-up of the new cabinet and so far 18 sessions of parliament to choose a president have been canceled.

AFP

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10 Comments

USNinJapan2 at 10:30 AM JST - 9th May

What's that saying? "Same sh#t different day..."
USNinJapan2 at 10:30 AM JST - 9th May

What's that saying? "Same sh#t different day..."
Helter_Skelter at 11:41 AM JST - 9th May

Leave it to Hezbollah to turn the once "Paris of Western Asia" into just another Islamic hell-hole. Same sh#t different day...
SuperLib at 01:13 PM JST - 9th May

Looks like Iran has itself another proxy war to supply. How many does that make? Same sh#t, different country, different day...
smithinjapan at 01:48 PM JST - 9th May

"Leave it to Hezbollah to turn the once "Paris of Western Asia" into just another Islamic hell-hole. Same sh#t different day..."

Plenty of hell-holes that are NOT Islamic, my friend, aside from the democratically elected Hesbolah's.
skipthesong at 02:27 PM JST - 9th May

smitty: I don't think Helter is implying the place was always a hell hole, I believe he is stating the Hez has made a beautiful country into a hell hole. They were elected to 8 seats.. that hardly gives them the right to install shiia law or declare a war on the government there, especially since they are from there..
mosc1 at 02:54 PM JST - 9th May

When Arabs slaughter Arabs, silence. Where's the international outcry? Where's the label Shoah?! Opps I forgot, Israel's not involved. The Corporate International Press seeks to sale copy. And no body buy copy about Arabs slaughtering each other. Prove being: where's Grouchy, if the copy concerns Israel, he'll throw his barbs of hatred and disgust. But when its Arabs shedding Arab blood, this passionate fool has nothing to say.
thedeath at 04:30 PM JST - 9th May

I think people got sick and tire of this peace lover already. I for one, have seen this type of news since I can remember a thing. they some how never stop making peace! They seem to enjoy it, unlike most of us out here which already sick of it!

just let's em do what they like!
nucular at 10:16 PM JST - 9th May

"Where's the international outcry?"

Good question.

Hezbollah is decorating the neighborhoods they have temporarily won in west Beirut with pictures of Syrian president-for-life Assad.

http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/05/09/at-ransacked-future-tv-office-hariri-photos-down-assad-photos-up/
adaydream at 02:22 AM JST - 10th May

I hope we stay the hell out of there. We don't need anymore conflicts to get involved in.

If one country wants to fight another country. Then they need to pay for it by yourself.