Khazen

by Nayla Razzouk, The opposition, made up of Shiite and Christian factions, has held demonstrations outside Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s offices in central Beirut. Deep political tensions in Lebanon and a number of street fights that have killed at least one Shiite sympathizer have raised concerns of a resurgence of sectarian strife in a country still reeling from the 1975-1990 civil war.

Some newspapers even hinted that the opposition may be planning to paralyze the airport, ports, and roads in a civil disobedience action that could be launched Monday.Opposition officials refused to comment.Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah pledged in a fiery speech late Thursday that the opposition will not "surrender," but he also said "the doors of negotiation are still open."Nasrallah hailed a proposal for a solution made by the influential Maronite Archbishops’ Council which called Wednesday for the formation of an "accord government" .The proposal "has a lot of positive elements and is worth considering," Nasrallah said in his televised speech to thousands of protestors who have been camping outside Siniora’s offices since last week.And on Friday, a Hezbollah delegation, lead by the head of the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc MP Mohammed Raad, visited Bkerke, the seat of the Maronite patriarchate northeast of Beirut, said a Hezbollah spokesman."They will of course discuss what Sayyed Nasrallah talked about when he mentioned the archbishops’ proposal," he told AFP.  The Free patriotic movement lead by General Aoun also embraced the Archbishops’ Council, and accepting it fully.

The "March 14" ruling majority also backed the archbishops’ proposal in an overnight statement that called for resolving the crisis through dialogue."We hail the statement by the Maronite archbishops… which reflects the spirit of national unity," it said."We reject any kind of violence and confrontations and we believe that strikes and ongoing sit-ins will not help resolve the Lebanese problem."

The opposition is seeking a greater say in the Siniora government, which is hanging by a thread after six pro-Damascus ministers quit last month.

Siniora’s coalition has accused the opposition of seeking to block implementation of a cabinet decision for an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 murder of former premier Rafiq Hariri, widely blamed on Syria.

Newspapers close to the opposition said Friday, that despite serious accusations against the Siniora government, Nasrallah’s speech was meant to "exert pressure in order to find a settlement."

Nasrallah reiterated accusations against "some members" of the ruling majority who allegedly asked Washington to let Israel launch a war against Hezbollah this past summer to disarm his Shiite militant group.

He also accused Siniora of having asked the Lebanese army to confiscate arms for Hezbollah during the war.

But on Friday, the Lebanese army command denied having received any such orders.

Such accusations prompted Youth Minister Ahmad Fatfat to wonder "how can (Nasrallah) call for a national unity government with those he is accusing of being traitors, and under the leadership of Siniora?"