Hezbollah issues ultimatum to Hariri
As Lebanese caretaker prime minister meets with Turkey's Erdogan, opposition says will let him lead government until 2013 if he puts an end to 'libel being concocted' by international tribunal probing his father's murder
The international committee, which is expected to submit its conclusions in the near future, is likely to point a finger at the Hezbollah organization and file indictments against its members.
Hariri and Erdogan, Friday (Photo: Reuters)
In an attempt to increase the pressure on the Lebanese prime minister, the mass resignation took place during Hariri's meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington.
"We don't want to shut the door completely," the opposition source said. "Hariri can continue leading the new government until 2013, but only if he promises to put an end to the libel being concocted by the international tribunal."
Meanwhile, the London-based Arabic-language al-Hayat newspaper quoted Lebanese opposition sources as saying that the Syrian government favors a "neutral" person as Lebanon's prime minister.
According to the newspaper, the sources were clearly referring to Najib Mikati, a former Lebanese prime minister and a member of Hariri's party. Al-Hayat stated that the Syrian desire to remove Hariri from his position is aimed at creating a new political reality in Lebanon, which would be much closer to the Syrian leadership and the rest of the Arab countries.
Seeking international support
Hariri on Friday consulted with regional power Turkey as part of efforts to rally international support after Hezbollah brought down the Lebanese government.
Having met with President Barack Obama in Washington and stopped in France en route to Turkey, the Lebanese leader was expected to discuss steps to solve the government crisis with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Turkish leaders were expected to propose holding an international conference to address the crisis and advise Hariri to try to seek a consensus with Hezbollah, private NTV television said Friday.
Turkey, which has built closer ties with Lebanon since participating in the Lebanon peacekeeping force after the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war in southern Lebanon, believes it could play a role in returning stability to the region.
"The stability of Lebanon is important for the stability of the region," the Anatolia news agency quoted Turkey's Foreign Minister Davutoglu as saying on Thursday. "We regard all Lebanese as Turkey's friends, regardless of their political view, sect or religion."
The Associated Press contributed to this report
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
