John
01-25-2011, 09:37 PM
In a fundamental shift in power, Shia militant organisation Hizbollah has gained control of the Lebanese government.
The Iranian-backed guerilla organisation, already the country's most powerful military force, is now also its dominant political player.
The move led to Sunni Muslims - Hizbollah's rivals - carrying out a day of violence on the streets of Lebanese cities.
Hundreds of furious people burned tyres, blocked roads and attacked security forces in Beirut and Tripoli.
They accuse Hizbollah of carrying out a coup by persuading prominent politician Najib Mikati - who is a Sunni Muslim - to join its government as prime minister.
The endorsement of Mr Mikati is a victory for Hizbollah, which had secured enough parliamentary votes to seize control of the Lebanese government.
The move has implications for the region and beyond.
US ally Saad Hariri was toppled by Hizbollah when it walked out of his national unity cabinet, along with its allies.
Mr Hariri had refused to cease co-operation with a UN-backed investigation into the 2005 assassination of his father and former prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Indictments in the investigation have been submitted and are widely thought to accuse members of Hizbollah of being responsible.
Hizbollah has now manoeuvred itself from a guerrilla organisation that carries out social welfare programmes to the kingmaker in Lebanese politics.
Opponents fear it will now spread its control to other Lebanese institutions.
They accuse Hizbollah of ultimately seeking an Iranian-style Islamic theocratic revolution in Lebanon.
The Shia organisation says it exists to guarantee the welfare of its people and to act as a resistance to counter the military threat of Israel.
Israel fought a month-long devastating conflict with Hizbollah in 2006 that left more than 1,000 dead.
The country has repeatedly warned if Hizbollah gained control of the Lebanese government, national infrastructure would be regarded as legitimate targets in any future conflict with the militant group.
Source - Yahoo.
The Iranian-backed guerilla organisation, already the country's most powerful military force, is now also its dominant political player.
The move led to Sunni Muslims - Hizbollah's rivals - carrying out a day of violence on the streets of Lebanese cities.
Hundreds of furious people burned tyres, blocked roads and attacked security forces in Beirut and Tripoli.
They accuse Hizbollah of carrying out a coup by persuading prominent politician Najib Mikati - who is a Sunni Muslim - to join its government as prime minister.
The endorsement of Mr Mikati is a victory for Hizbollah, which had secured enough parliamentary votes to seize control of the Lebanese government.
The move has implications for the region and beyond.
US ally Saad Hariri was toppled by Hizbollah when it walked out of his national unity cabinet, along with its allies.
Mr Hariri had refused to cease co-operation with a UN-backed investigation into the 2005 assassination of his father and former prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Indictments in the investigation have been submitted and are widely thought to accuse members of Hizbollah of being responsible.
Hizbollah has now manoeuvred itself from a guerrilla organisation that carries out social welfare programmes to the kingmaker in Lebanese politics.
Opponents fear it will now spread its control to other Lebanese institutions.
They accuse Hizbollah of ultimately seeking an Iranian-style Islamic theocratic revolution in Lebanon.
The Shia organisation says it exists to guarantee the welfare of its people and to act as a resistance to counter the military threat of Israel.
Israel fought a month-long devastating conflict with Hizbollah in 2006 that left more than 1,000 dead.
The country has repeatedly warned if Hizbollah gained control of the Lebanese government, national infrastructure would be regarded as legitimate targets in any future conflict with the militant group.
Source - Yahoo.