Lebanon regime gets US boost

LEBANON:Arab League secretary general Amr Mousa yesterday continued his effort to end the month-old crisis between the Lebanese government and opposition. After securing the support of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad on Thursday, Mr Moussa returned to Beirut.

But as he attempted to finalise a deal to end the deadlock, Washington strengthened the government's hand vis-a-vis the opposition by announcing $500 million (€381 million) in aid for the country's security forces and police as part of a $1 billion package.

The US move coincided with the publication of the latest report by the International Crisis Group, Lebanon at a Tripwire, which warns that Lebanon has "lost its balance and is at risk of collapse" due to destabilisation of the equilibrium established at the end of the 1975-91 civil war.

The group blames corrupt clan-based and ideologically-driven domestic players for failing to heal sectarian rifts and to build state institutions.

"But," the group asserts, "the principal contributors to today's conflict are foreign" and argues the US, Israel, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia are subjecting the country to a tug-of-war.

The government, dominated by the March 14th movement formed after the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri, depends on the West for financial, diplomatic and political support. The opposition, led by Hizbullah, which relies on Syria and Iran, insists on a veto on policy in order to preserve its struggle against Israel.

Both sides parade their followers to secure political advantage. The group says, "street politics have replaced institutional politics . . . Mobilising mass support is how this conflict is being waged; [ but] it is not how it will be resolved" because "half the country cannot rule without, let alone against, the other".

The group calls for "resolution by consensus" of the issues which could trigger conflict.

It recommends the Lebanese parties adopt the Arab League plan for a national unity government composed of 30 ministers - 19 held by March 14th, 10 by the opposition and one by a neutral.

This government would approve terms of the international tribunal to try Mr Hariri's assassins, adopt electoral reform, agree on a candidate for president to take office at the end of President Emile Lahoud's term in September, conduct early parliamentary elections, and form a new government based on the results.

The group also says that two key external actors should pay positive roles. The US should end its opposition to the resumption of negotiations between Syria and Israel over the Israelioccupied Golan.

Syria should forsake direct political and military intervention in Lebanon in favour of exerting its influence through diplomatic and economic means.

As the stand-off persisted, police seized arms stashed in several houses by members of the largely Greek Orthodox Christian Syrian Social Nationalist Party, a pro-Damascus grouping, and detained seven people.

While most of the weapons dated back to the civil war era, this seizure exposed the threat posed by the reconstitution of disbanded sectarian militias if the current crisis continues.