Nasrallah: opposition can topple government any time

Source: Compiled by Moqawama.org, 25-01-2007


Hizbullah leader Hasan Nasrallah on Wednesday stated that "the Lebanese opposition is capable to overthrow the government tomorrow, but what prevented it to do so is its commitment to civil peace."

"If the opposition wanted to topple the government, it would do so on the first day of its protests," Nasrallah conveyed in a speech aired by al-Manar TV. He challenged the Lebanese government to "make a successful general strike as the opposition made yesterday."

Nasrallah added that the opposition was holding back its efforts to bring down Premier Fouad Siniora`s government for the sake of civil peace, but his main Christian ally promised "more surprises" in the days to come.

"The opposition has the political, popular and organizational strength to bring down the unconstitutional government tomorrow or the day after," Nasrallah added.
"What has so far prevented the fall of this `clique` that is clinging to power is not international support but the patriotic feelings of the opposition and its desire to preserve civil peace."

"We are not an occupying force in Lebanon," he said. "We are above all these accusations and divisive statements. This is our country, just like it is everyone else`s."
He said no agreement could be imposed against the will of the Lebanese people and vowed not to back down on the demands of the opposition for a veto in government and early elections. "There is talk of reviving serious initiatives, a Saudi-Iranian activity, an Arab activity," Nasrallah stated.

"We bless any effort...but to be clear, any agreement that might happen between any two well respected governments is not binding to the Lebanese," he said. "The role of brotherly and friendly states is to help the Lebanese reach consensus.
"No one in Lebanon or outside Lebanon should think that the opposition could contemplate going back or abandon its goals," he said.

This came as opposing factions clashed for a second day in the North Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday, leaving two wounded people.
Tripoli, the country`s second largest city, saw some of the heaviest clashes on Tuesday during the general strike called by the opposition.
The fighting broke out Wednesday in Tripoli during the funeral of one of two men killed a day earlier, witnesses said.

But despite the clashes, the pro-power sharing campaign is set to continue, with pledges by opposition leaders to further escalate the protest until they bring down the government.

Meanwhile, Lebanese political sources said Saudi Arabia and Iran, backers of the main rivals in Lebanon`s political crisis, are negotiating a deal to end the standoff.
They said Prince Bandar bin Sultan held talks with senior Iranian official Ali Larijani in Tehran to try to reach an agreement both the government and the opposition would accept.

The Lebanese sources did not give many details on the proposed deal but one source said it covered formation of a unity government and an understanding on a UN-backed international court.

The source said if there was an agreement in Tehran, the Saudis would present an initiative to resolve the crisis at an international aid conference for Lebanon in Paris.