freepalestine
25th January 2011, 18:49
Rage follows Lebanon PM nomination
</U>AlJazeera.net
</B>
</U></I></B></STRONG>
Saad Hariri's supporters lash out against the nomination of Lebanon's new PM, the Hezbollah-backed Najib Mikati.
January 25, 2011
Lebanon's president has formally appointed a Hezbollah-backed candidate as prime minister-designate and asked him to form a new government.
Lawmakers in Beirut voted on Tuesday to back billionaire businessman Najib Mikati, the candidate Hezbollah had proposed as a prime minister.
He gained 68 votes to Hariri's 60, putting the Hezbollah-led opposition in a position to form a government.
The defeat of Western-backed Saad Hariri, who has been prime minister since 2009, comes as Sunnis protested the rising power of the Syria- and Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, burning tires and torching a van belonging to Al Jazeera in a "day of rage" (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112535328227823.html) in the country.
'Shouts of anger'
In a televised statement, Hariri tried to calm the anger that had poured onto the streets.
"I understand the shouts of anger that have come out of your chests," said Hariri.
"But it is not right that this anger leads us to what is against our values and upbringing and our belief that democracy is our only resort and the only way we express our political stance. ... Raise the Lebanese flag high above your head and know that I will always be with you,'' he said.
The Lebanese army fired bullets into the air on Tuesday in the northern city of Tripoli to control hundreds of protesters who burned tyres and blocked roads in protest over Mikati's nomination.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, said that protests were quick to break out after the announcement.
"People have come onto the streets, especially in strongholds of Saad Hariri, demonstrating against the selection of Mikati," she said.
She added that several districts of northern Lebanon, as well as the port city of Tripoli, have seen protests by supporters of the March 14 coalition, led by Hariri.
A new government
Mikati told reporters that he wants to form a unity government. Even though Hezbollah backed him, he is seen as a relatively neutral figure who enjoys good relations with both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hariri.
http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/imagecache/218/330/mritems/Images/2011/1/24/2011124143643294965_20.jpgThe Harvard-educated Mikati began building his business in the midst of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war [Reuters]
The 55-year-old Sunni businessman with close ties to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, portrays himself as a consensus candidate who can work with all of Lebanon's rival political camps.
"I will cooperate fully with all Lebanese to form a new government that protects the unity and sovereignty of our country," said Mikati on Tuesday after learning of his nomination.
He was chosen as caretaker prime minister in April 2005, when an outcry over Rafiq al-Hariri's killing forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
Mikati served three months until the election won by an alliance of Sunni, Druze and Christian parties led by Hariri's son, Saad.
Mikati served as minister of public works and transport in three cabinets between 1998 and 2004.
Unlike many Lebanese leaders, Mikati does not hail from one of the many political dynasties, rendering him a more likely compromise candidate.
Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, urged Mikati to form a national partnership government.
"We have supported the nomination of ... Mikati and we call on him to form a national partnership government. The Lebanese have a chance to close ranks," said Nasrallah in his address to thousands of supporters on Tuesday.
Anticipated conflict
Hariri's government collapsed when Hezbollah and its allies pulled out 11 ministers from the cabinet in a dispute over the Special Tribunal (http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/03/20093152222705239.html) for Lebanon, which is investigating the 2005 murder of Saad's father and the country’s former prime minister, Rafiq al-Hariri.
Nasrallah has accused the Netherlands-based tribunal of being under US-Israeli control.
Nasrallah has also said he expects the tribunal will implicate Hezbollah members and warned of grave repercussions.
Many fear Hezbollah will react violently if its members are indicted, as is widely expected.
:: Article nr. 74268 sent on 25-jan-2011 16:48 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=74268 (http://www.uruknet.info/?p=74268)</I>
Link: english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011125123043953760.html</I> (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011125123043953760.html)
</U>AlJazeera.net
</B>
</U></I></B></STRONG>
Saad Hariri's supporters lash out against the nomination of Lebanon's new PM, the Hezbollah-backed Najib Mikati.
January 25, 2011
Lebanon's president has formally appointed a Hezbollah-backed candidate as prime minister-designate and asked him to form a new government.
Lawmakers in Beirut voted on Tuesday to back billionaire businessman Najib Mikati, the candidate Hezbollah had proposed as a prime minister.
He gained 68 votes to Hariri's 60, putting the Hezbollah-led opposition in a position to form a government.
The defeat of Western-backed Saad Hariri, who has been prime minister since 2009, comes as Sunnis protested the rising power of the Syria- and Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, burning tires and torching a van belonging to Al Jazeera in a "day of rage" (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112535328227823.html) in the country.
'Shouts of anger'
In a televised statement, Hariri tried to calm the anger that had poured onto the streets.
"I understand the shouts of anger that have come out of your chests," said Hariri.
"But it is not right that this anger leads us to what is against our values and upbringing and our belief that democracy is our only resort and the only way we express our political stance. ... Raise the Lebanese flag high above your head and know that I will always be with you,'' he said.
The Lebanese army fired bullets into the air on Tuesday in the northern city of Tripoli to control hundreds of protesters who burned tyres and blocked roads in protest over Mikati's nomination.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, said that protests were quick to break out after the announcement.
"People have come onto the streets, especially in strongholds of Saad Hariri, demonstrating against the selection of Mikati," she said.
She added that several districts of northern Lebanon, as well as the port city of Tripoli, have seen protests by supporters of the March 14 coalition, led by Hariri.
A new government
Mikati told reporters that he wants to form a unity government. Even though Hezbollah backed him, he is seen as a relatively neutral figure who enjoys good relations with both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hariri.
http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/imagecache/218/330/mritems/Images/2011/1/24/2011124143643294965_20.jpgThe Harvard-educated Mikati began building his business in the midst of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war [Reuters]
The 55-year-old Sunni businessman with close ties to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, portrays himself as a consensus candidate who can work with all of Lebanon's rival political camps.
"I will cooperate fully with all Lebanese to form a new government that protects the unity and sovereignty of our country," said Mikati on Tuesday after learning of his nomination.
He was chosen as caretaker prime minister in April 2005, when an outcry over Rafiq al-Hariri's killing forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
Mikati served three months until the election won by an alliance of Sunni, Druze and Christian parties led by Hariri's son, Saad.
Mikati served as minister of public works and transport in three cabinets between 1998 and 2004.
Unlike many Lebanese leaders, Mikati does not hail from one of the many political dynasties, rendering him a more likely compromise candidate.
Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, urged Mikati to form a national partnership government.
"We have supported the nomination of ... Mikati and we call on him to form a national partnership government. The Lebanese have a chance to close ranks," said Nasrallah in his address to thousands of supporters on Tuesday.
Anticipated conflict
Hariri's government collapsed when Hezbollah and its allies pulled out 11 ministers from the cabinet in a dispute over the Special Tribunal (http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/03/20093152222705239.html) for Lebanon, which is investigating the 2005 murder of Saad's father and the country’s former prime minister, Rafiq al-Hariri.
Nasrallah has accused the Netherlands-based tribunal of being under US-Israeli control.
Nasrallah has also said he expects the tribunal will implicate Hezbollah members and warned of grave repercussions.
Many fear Hezbollah will react violently if its members are indicted, as is widely expected.
:: Article nr. 74268 sent on 25-jan-2011 16:48 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=74268 (http://www.uruknet.info/?p=74268)</I>
Link: english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011125123043953760.html</I> (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011125123043953760.html)