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Elections Open Door to Civil War?

Joseph Farah

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Crisis looming in no-compromise stance in Lebanon

Editor's Note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium online newsletter published by the founder of WND. Subscriptions are $99 a year or, for monthly trials, just $9.95 per month for credit card users, and provide instant access for the complete reports.

Lebanon's parliament

Decisions that have followed the controversial June 7 parliamentary elections in Lebanon may be leading to a confrontation that could resemble the open conflict of opposing forces that almost led to civil war last year, according to a report in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

Lebanese sources tell G2Bulletin that the Sunni March 14 group that won the majority of parliamentary seats may take away from the predominantly Shiite-Christian March 8 group the veto power it previous won following last summer's conflict.

In recent days, politicians who back the March 14 group have made it clear that the veto power the March 8 opposition led by Hezbollah enjoyed will no longer be allowed. Such a veto had given Hezbollah and its Christian allies led by former Gen. Michel Aoun a veto over legislation and selection of those who will occupy 11 of the 30 cabinet seats.

That came about in May 2008 following the brief shooting conflict a few months before. Called the Doha Agreement, Qatar's

Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani had worked out an agreement ending an 18-month political crisis that saw the country unable to choose a president and teeter on the verge of a civil war.

The deal was worked out to defuse what had become a power struggle between the Sunni March 14 group led by the U.S. and Saudi-supported Saad Hariri and the Shiite March 8 group led by the Hezbollah and its Christian allies.

Keep in touch with the most important breaking news stories about critical developments around the globe with Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence news source edited and published by the founder of WND.

Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said Hezbollah's veto over legislation would not be reinstated in the new Lebanese government. He said the prior Doha agreement "has nothing to do with the Lebanese constitution or its democratic system.

"This is why this formula was for a predetermined period which ends with the end of the mandate of the current government," he said. "If a new government of national unity is formed, it will be based on partnership and not on the principle of veto."

Former president and Christian Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel also said he was opposed to extending the power-sharing arrangement which gave Hezbollah a third of the cabinet seats and a veto over government decisions.

"If the opposition prefers not to participate, that's its right," said Gemayel. "We won with a big margin and it's natural that we take government without an obstructing veto," added Gemayel, who was part of the March 14 group.

Hezbollah and its Christian allies, however, have insisted that their veto power over key decisions be maintained. Given the 71 out of 128 seats which the March 14 group won in the June 7 parliamentary elections, however, Hezbollah also appears to be receptive to possible overtures from Hariri. He is slated to become the new prime minister as a result of the elections.

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