By Weedah Hamzah Mar 4, 2007, 0:23 GMT
Beirut - For ten minutes dozens of Lebanese from various religious sects stood clapping their hands at what they described as 'the irresponsible behaviour' of Lebanese lawmakers for failing to reach a compromise to solve the country's worst political crisis since a fifteen-year civil war ended in 1990.
The gathering was held Saturday in central Beirut by a group calling itself 'Ouaa' (Watch Out).
'We called on all Lebanese who do not belong to any political parties to join us in this movement to say no to violence in the country and to watch out,' Ghazi Haj, one of the organizers, said.
'Our fellow citizens should know that the peace in our country is in the hands of the people and not the political leaders,' said Haj.
The organizers called on participants to leave their handprint on a large blackboard to say to other Lebanese that 'despite the black cloud over the country there is always a glimpse of hope.'
Men, women and children wearing white gloves with white paint started to print their palms on a large black wall in the Beshara al Khoury area, which used to be a green-line dividing the country into Moslem and Christian halves during the bloody civil war.
'I do not support the government or the opposition. I support my country Lebanon,' said participant Nahla Aridi.
Following 33-days of a devastating Israeli offensive on Lebanon during July-August 2006, Lebanon is today on the brink of a deep political crisis, this time between the Lebanese pro-Syrian opposition led by Hezbollah and the Western-backed government led by the parliamentary anti-Syrian majority.
The crisis has deepened since December 1 when the opposition began an open-ended sit-in in downtown Beirut at the doors of the governmental palace to force the cabinet of Premier Fouad Seniora to resign.
Tension has increased further over recent weeks, raising fears among the Lebanese that the country is heading towards a new civil war, but this time between the Muslim Sunni and Shiite factions.
Student riots on January 22-23 which took place in mainly Muslim neighbourhoods left at least three people dead and more than 200 injured.
The opposition has warned of further actions, such as civil disobedience, if Seniora does not accept their demands to step down and form a 'national unity cabinet' in which Hezbollah and its allies would have a veto on key decisions.
Six ministers loyal to the opposition, most of them Shiites, resigned from the cabinet in November to add more pressure on Seniora to resign.
However, the anti-Syrian government has vowed to stay in office no matter how much pressure is brought to bear by the opposition.
Since then the country has been in a stalemate and no political solution is in sight, alarming the people of Lebanon who fear another war.
'We want the political leaders to know even though we are a new organization that does not belong to any of their political factions, we can make a difference,' said Ziad Abbod of the new movement Ouaa.
'We are here to say that the country is not only for you (the political factions) and your supporters ... there are others who do not agree with your views and want to live in peace,' he added.
The organizers of Saturday's demonstration, which was estimated to have drawn 300 people, have vowed to stage further events to show the Lebanese that there is the possibility of light at the end of the tunnel.
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BeelzebubMar 5th, 2007 - 15:38:07
That's awesome - if they kick Hezbully out, then they won't have any reason to scrap with Israel. Helbollah drops the soap!
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