AFP: Lebanon aims for compromise after huge opposition rally

[Eugene]

Lebanon aims for compromise after huge opposition rally


by Kerry Sheridan
1 hour, 21 minutes ago

BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon's divided factions were aiming for a political compromise
after mass protests led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah overwhelmed Beirut
and raised fears of a return to civil strife.

-snip-

Arab diplomats were due in the capital to discuss a proposal with Prime Minister
Fuad Siniora after securing the "agreement in principle" of Hezbollah which launched
a rally on Sunday the army said was "unprecedented" in size.

Arab League envoy Mustafa Ismail was to hash out details of a six-point proposal
regarding the opposition's participation in the government after its six ministers
pulled out last month.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061211/wl_mideast_afp/lebanonunrestpolitics_061211084106

[xchrom]

1. the last conflict hass given hezbullah standing

in a way that it didn't have before.

if hezbullah was behind the assasination -- then they've gotten away with it with impunity.

[David__77]

2. Hezbollah had nothing to do with, most likely.

It did nothing to further their strategic objectives. All it did was galvanize the political right briefly, defined as the "anti-Syria" factions of Christo-fascists and allied groupings. However, in the wake of the war with Israel, they have no political capital and so even this act did little for them.

[Kagemusha]

3. So much for the 'Syrians bused in' theory?

Or is the govt just too scared to care right now?

[Eugene]

4. Too early to call it a deal (Syria backs Arab League efforts on Lebanon-envoy) - Reuters

Syria backs Arab League efforts on Lebanon-envoy
11 Dec 2006 14:59:51 GMT
Source: Reuters

-snip-

By Nadim Ladki

BEIRUT, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The Arab League won vital Syrian support on Monday
for its efforts to end a standoff between Lebanon's government and a Hezbollah-
led opposition rallying hundreds of thousands in central Beirut, an envoy said.

Arab League envoy Mustafa Osman Ismail said he also had backing in principle
from rival factions in Lebanon. But Lebanese political sources from both camps
said there was no progress.

-snip-

Ismail later travelled to Beirut and held separate talks with Prime Minister
Fouad Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of the pro-Syrian
Hezbollah.


-snip-

"Ismail did not carry anything new. There is no progress," a senior opposition
source familiar with the talks said. An official source said it was early to speak
of a breakthrough.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L11680178.htm