NEWS Fall of government plunges Lebanon into uncertainty (Feature)

By Weedah Hamzah Jan 13, 2011, 12:15 GMT

Beirut - The collapse of the Lebanese national unity government has thrown the country into a political crisis and raised fear and uncertainty among the population.

'We were expecting this to happen before the UN tribunal issues its indictments. We Lebanese have learned to live in fear and uncertainty,' said Hala Razzouk, a teacher.

Tensions have been high amid reports that the UN-backed tribunal will soon indict members of the Shiite movement Hezbollah in the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

On Wednesday, 11 cabinet ministers from Hezbollah and its allies resigned in protest over the government's failure to denounce the expected indictments, toppling the government.

'We are living now again a situation similar to the one prevailed in 2008, when political tension turned into violence in the streets,' Jina Abi Karam, a Lebanese businesswoman said.

In 2008, Hezbollah militants took over the capital to protest a decision by the then government of prime minister Foaud Seniora to dismantle the movement's special telecommunication network.

Clashes lasted one week between followers of the militant group and supporters of the Hariri camp, during which 80 people died.

Wiaam Wahab, a former minister who is a member of Hezbollah, opposition, told the German Press agency dpa, 'no violence will take place in the streets, but this government of Saad Hariri is not capable of ruling the country at this time.'

Current Premier Saad Hariri is Rafik Hariri's son.

The tension following the collapse of the government prompted Lebanese army commander General Jean Qahwaji to announce his troops are 'fully prepared to curb the flames of tension.'

He said Lebanese leaders with various political affiliations 'will not provide free service to the enemies of Lebanon, foremost among them Israel.'

But despite Qahawji's assurances, many political analysts expected the crisis to last for months.

Political analyst Shafik al-Masri ruled out a wide-scale civil strife, but said 'violent incidents might take place between the two camps when the indictments are out and it might get out of hand sometimes.'

A western diplomatic source in Beirut told dpa that Hezbollah 'should not make the Lebanese chose between justice and stability.'

'Hezbollah and their allies are mainly exercising a kind of blackmail on their country and their people,' the diplomat said.

He added that the draft indictments are expected to be released this month, and they could spark sectarian clashes in Lebanon that might spread to other countries.

'In a nutshell, we are living now on a timebomb which is set to explode at anytime,' said Anas al-Seyyed, a businessman said.

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