Lebanon's new government agrees to let Hezbollah keep arms

Nov 26, 2009, 16:52 GMT

Beirut - Lebanon's new national unity government agreed Thursday to allow the Shiite movement Hezbollah to keep its arms to resist Israel, despite some reservations by some cabinet members.

Information Minister Tarek Mitri said the cabinet's policy statement adopted the same clause approved by the previous cabinet, which states that the people of Lebanon, its army, its resistance (Hezbollah) had the right to liberate all Lebanese territories.

Mitri said that reservations regarding the clause came from members of the Western-backed majority.

Christian members of the majority, including the Phalange Party and Lebanese Forces, argued that Hezbollah's arms undermined state authority and were in violation of UN resolution 1701, which calls for disarming all Lebanese militias, including Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, which has two ministers in the 30-member cabinet, has made it clear that its weapons are not up for discussion.

Hezbollah, argues that its arms should stay and they are to protect the country against any possible Israeli aggression.

The Lebanese Shiite movement fought a devasting 33-day war against Israel in July 2006.

Lebanon's national unity government was formed by Saad Hariri earlier this month. Hariri heads the Western-backed alliance which scored a victory in the parliamentary elections in June against the Hezbollah-led opposition which is backed by Iran and Syria.