Show of support. Rice
Photo: AP
Rice pays surprise visit to Lebanon
On the table: ‘Show support for Lebanese government’; President Lahoud's ousting
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived Thursday in Beirut in a surprise visit to support a Lebanese government that is trying to shake off Syrian influence and overthrow President Emile Lahoud.
Shortly after arriving, Rice told reporters, "The only purpose of the visit is show support for the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people, while attempting to achieve full sovereignty."
Rice met with the Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and with the Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon Nasrallah Sfeir. Later she is scheduled to meet with the Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, which the political block he is associated with, "March 14 Forces," is deepening its political fight to overthrow Lahoud.
Following the huge crowd that demonstrated after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, a political block was established in March 14 of last year which includes Sunnis, Druze, and Christians. They call for "new order" in Lebanon and opposing the Syrian influence, including the overthrowing of Lahoud. The block even gave Lahoud an ultimatum to resign by March 14, but he remains defiant.
Lahoud is expected to participate in a Lebanese government meeting on Thursday evening, but according to London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, two thirds of the parliament ministers who belong to "March 14 Forces" will not attend.
On Wednesday, the "Forces" managed to obtain 14 public signatures of past and present parliament members, confirming they supported Lahoud only because of "Syrian threats."
That decreases the number of Lahoud supporters to 82 parliament members, while the Lebanese constitution requires 86 to support extending the president's term. Even if this constitutional detail may not bring about Lahoud's ousting, the petition definitely does not add to his calm.
'A big test expected today'
Furthermore, Lebanese Communication Minister, Marawan Hamadeh, who has close ties with Druze leader Walid Jumbalat, and who also belongs to the "Forces," said that ousting Lahoud is a "sure thing". Speaking to al-Sharq, he said "today we expect a big test", but refused to confirm whether Ministers associated with the "Forces" will be absent from the government meeting headed by Lahoud.
Hamadeh, who in an act of protest removed Lahoud’s picture from the wall of his office, noted that the most important thing now is to determine the identity of the next Lebanese president. This, after the Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon Nasrallah Sfeir gave his blessing for Lahoud's removal, but without using violence.
What about Lahoud himself? His associates said that "his resignation is not on the agenda", and blamed French President Jacques Chirac, for being among the conspirators to oust Lahoud.
It seems that Lahoud's troubles are not over. The newspaper Al Hayat, published in London, reported that the Vatican also supports Lahoud's ousting. According to the report, it is Christian sources who are trying to remove Lahoud from power, and they are supported by the Vatican. This gives Patriarch Sfeir a stronghold in the matter. Sfeir, on his part, already hinted to Lahoud that it is best if he resigns, but for now the saga continues.
On other matters of Rice' visit, the American secretary of state arrived in Beirut after visiting Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Rice failed to convince the Saudis to stop the aid to the Palestinians. Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak asked Rice to allow the Hamas enough time to formulate its positions and respond to Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' demands.
