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Opposition leaves country guessing as security forces tighten grip on Beirut
'I will not specify the Date or time' of protests, says aoun
Leaders of the political opposition kept an already tense country guessing on Wednesday as to when and how universally anticipated street demonstrations against the government of Premier Fouad Siniora would play out. |
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"I will not specify the day or time," Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun said in a news conference at his residence in Rabieh.
"We are going to take to the streets peacefully and I call on all Lebanese to take part in this movement against the government that has long lost it legitimacy," he added.
Aoun called current governing officials "liars" and asked the people "not to believe the rumors spread by the government that there will be killing and violence." The planned demonstrations are intended to be "peaceful," he said.
The opposition appeared to be moving toward a mass protest early last week, but any planned action was postponed due to the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel on November 21.
Aoun said that he would "not accept" any criticism directed at his party, which he said "has always been committed to Lebanon's sovereignty, unlike the more seasonal commitments to Lebanon by current people in power."
Despite the FPM's call for the protest, Aoun said he is still willing "to listen carefully and with a positive attitude to proposals for a solution" to Lebanon's political crisis.
"There is still a path open to solutions," he said.
Aoun said the current political crisis centers on calls for the formation of a government of national unity and a more representative electoral law.
"Besides, how can anyone now trust a government that allows criminals to function within Lebanon like the old mafia of Chicago where people can be killed by unmasked assassins in broad daylight and the security knows nothing?" said Aoun.
Gemayel was assassinated by a group of gunmen at approximately 4 p.m. in a busy area of the northern Beirut suburb of Jdeideh.
Sources close to Hizbullah and the FPM told The Daily Star Wednesday that their supporters are "ready" to hit the streets, and are prepared for a protest that will last "more than a week."
Rumors abounded in the capital on Wednesday evening that Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah would speak that night. An unnamed source close to the opposition was quoted by Reuters on Wednesday as saying that there would be a large demonstration in Beirut within 48 hours.
Nasrallah, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and fellow opposition leader Aoun had all agreed to the timetable, the source said.
At the same time, the Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that relevant authorities had to be informed of any demonstrations "three days" ahead of time.
The ministry statement said the request form for a demonstration must "clearly outline" the anticipated number of protestors, protest goals, locations and timing. Any other protest would be considered "illegal," the ministry said.
However, Hizbullah officials said last week that the opposition would not heed any ultimatums issued by the current "unconstitutional" government.
Security sources on Wednesday reported a "massive" mobilization of police and army troops throughout the capital and in major towns in the South in anticipation of a protest.
The parliamentary majority March 14 Forces has accused the pro-Syrian opposition of seeking to weaken Siniora's government in order to derail plans for an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 killing of former Premier Rafik Hariri in 2005. Several Lebanese leaders have warned that any wide-scale protests could disintegrate into street violence and push Lebanon towards chaos.
Beirut
30-11-2006
Rym Ghazal
The Daily Star
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