Hizbullah, Amal Reject Return to Gov`t, "It is our legitimate right to demand a real participation in the political de

Source: Alalam.ir, 25-11-2006
BEIRUT, The leaders of Lebanon`s Hizbullah and Amal have vowed to bring out mass protests against the US-backed government if their demand for better representation in the government is not met.
In a joint statement, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Amal leader Nabih Berri insisted "on our legitimate right to demand a real participation in the political decision-making".
Their announcement came after the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora moved ahead with its plan to hold a Cabinet session without the participation of all members.
The Cabinet was due to give its final approval to a tribunal to try suspects in the February 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
Nasrallah and Berri said they supported the creation of the tribunal, but denounced a coalition built around Siniora for using the issue to block their say in the political process.
"The use of the international tribunal by the other side as a pretext to confront our legitimate political demand will not dissuade us from pressing our demand by using all available democratic and legal means," said Nasrallah and Berri, who is also the speaker of parliament.
Hizbullah ignored a call by Siniora on Thursday night for six pro-Hizbullah Cabinet ministers to return to their posts.
In a Friday prayers sermon, a senior cleric said Siniora must quit because most Lebanese hated him and his departure was the only solution to the political deadlock.
"If you want the ministers to withdraw their resignations, Siniora should resign because he is hated by some people," said Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, the deputy head of the Higher Shiite Muslim Council.
"He must rectify the government`s situation by going home before the country is in ruins."
President Emile Lahoud weighed in when he issued a statement saying that Saturday`s Cabinet meeting would be "unconstitutional owing to the absence of the six ministers".
Siniora`s allies dominate the government and parliament, but Hizbullah is vowing to bring down the government with a wave of mass protests unless it and Amal receive more seats in Cabinet.
That plan however seems to have been pushed backed following Tuesday`s assassination of industry minister Pierre Gemayel.
Business leaders called a two-day strike Friday to urge the rival leaders to take national decisions and engage in dialogue.
Siniora and his opponents have already held a series of negotiations on Berri`s initiative to form a government of national unity and reform the Constitution, but a breakthrough has been elusive.