Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 16, 2008 4:18:57 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Lebanon Pays High Price to Avert Civil War

Posted May 22, 08 9:15 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – The agreement that ended Lebanon's 18-month political crisis is nothing less than a sea change for the country, writes the Washington Post, strengthening Hezbollah and dealing a blow to America and its Middle East allies. The US-backed government in Beirut said that the last-minute deal averted a civil war, but gives Hezbollah many of its demands—including a veto over any cabinet decision.

Since the 2005 assassination of PM Rafiq al-Hariri, Lebanon has been beset by troubles, from war with Israel to Hezbollah sacking West Beirut. Yesterday's deal was greeted enthusiastically by Iran and Syria and cautiously by the US. "We may have made compromises and we may have lost something, but it's better than losing everything and Lebanon losing everything." said one Beirut resident.

Source Washington Post

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Lebanon Picks Prez, Ends 6-Month Crisis

    May 25, 08 5:26 PM CDT
    Lebanon Picks Prez, Ends 6-Month Crisis Lebanon elected its first leader in 6 months today by naming Gen. Michel Suleiman as president, the Washington Post reports. Fireworks filled the sky to a chorus of car honks after Suleiman secured the post with a near-unanimous 118 of 127 parliamentary votes. But the nation remains torn between US-Saudi backing and the forces of Hezbollah. More »

  • Deal Brings Lebanon Thaw, Promise to Talk

    May 15, 08 3:15 PM CDT
    Deal Brings Lebanon Thaw, Promise to Talk As Beirut International Airport welcomed the first commercial flights in a week, the Arab League announced today a deal that would end the worst fighting in Lebanon since the civil war and lead to talks aimed at ending the 18-month political crisis, Reuters reports. The talks, set for tomorrow in Qatar, will continue “until agreement is reached," the Qatari prime minister said. More »

  • Hezbollah Pulling Gunmen From Beirut

    May 10, 08 12:56 PM CDT
    Hezbollah Pulling Gunmen From Beirut Hezbollah began withdrawing gunmen today from Beirut after winning concessions from the Lebanese army to overturn the government measures that sparked days of fierce fighting. The army, a neutral player in the ongoing struggle between the insurgent political group and the Western-backed government, said it would reinstate Beirut airport’s security chief and would maintain Hezbollah’s military communications network, Reuters reports. More »

  • Hezbollah Seizes Muslim Beirut

    May 9, 08 6:12 AM CDT
    Hezbollah Seizes Muslim Beirut Hezbollah militants have taken control of Muslim areas of Beirut and now control all the roads to the Lebanese capital's airport, Reuters reports. Gunmen forced a pro-government TV station off the air. At least 11 people have been killed, including those trying to flee the city, as sectarian violence continued into a third day. More »

  • Hezbollah Chief: Beirut 'War Has Started'

    May 8, 08 3:15 PM CDT
    Hezbollah Chief: Beirut 'War Has Started' What began as a strike yesterday is now “open war” in Lebanon, according to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, CNN reports. Open violence continued for a second day today, with loyalists and opposition fighters clashing after the US-backed government tried to muscle through measures against Hezbollah on Monday, including a crackdown on the Syria- and Iran-friendly group’s communications network. More »

A picture of Syrian president Bashar Assad hangs on a building as a Lebanese man hangs a picture of army chief, Gen. Michel Suleiman in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A Lebanese man hangs a picture of army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman on his balcony in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 22, 2008. Under the Doha deal, both sides agreed to elect Suleiman president.   (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A Lebanese soldier removes razor wire from barricades in front of Government House in Beirut, Thursday, May 22, 2008. Authorities removed barricades and road blocks following Wednesday's agreement.   (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A Lebanese traffic policeman rides a forklift truck on its way to remove concrete blocks from a barricade in front of Government House in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A Lebanese man holds white flowers as balloons are released in Beirut's main square in celebration of the deal to end Lebanon's long stalemate on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.   (AP Photo/Grace Kassab)
School children carry pictures of army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman, the consensus candidate to be elected as president on Sunday, as they celebrate in his hometown of Aamchit, north of Beirut, Lebanon,...   (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
Children carry Lebanese flags and pictures of army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman, the consensus candidate to be elected president on Sunday, as they celebrate north of Beirut on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

Middle East  • Lebanon  • Hezbollah  • civil war  • Beirut  • Saad al-Hariri  • Michel Suleiman  • Rafiq al-Hariri


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other World Stories