Black Widows

Widows, mothers, daughters, relatives and friends of assassinated politicians of 14th March Coalition send a strong message today from Bkerki, the Maronite Church HQ, against destabilizing Lebanon and against the demonstrations of Hezbollah and its allies.

8th, 14th or the Airport

Cartoonist Armand Houmsi in today's An-Nahar:

'Exits for the Citizen'
- 8th of March Stree
- 14th of March Street
.....or
- the Airport

Seeking a Political Career in Lebanon? ..think again!

A picture taken today (23.11.2006) in Beirut during the funeral of assassinated Minister and MP, Pierre Gemayel [click on picture to enlarge]

Thousands attend Beirut funeral

Thousands of mourners gathered on Thursday in the centre of Beirut for the funeral of the assassinated industry minister, Pierre Gemayel.

When a Sign of Power becomes a Sign of Weakness

"The authority team [Lebanon’s 14^th of March coalition and ruling majority] today is in a state of weakness.” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, in a speech aired on 19.11.2006

A prophecy that Nasrallah has been telling in a way or another for the last few weeks; and he appears to be right.

So the news that Prime Minister Siniora ordering ministers to move to the Prime Minister’s headquarter did not come as a surprise. The Grand Serial, an impressive Ottoman building used as the PM’s residence and office, is under transformation to host cabinet members as a living and working place. It is a bid by the PM to ensure the safety of his cabinet members and ensure that the cabinet can meet safely to approve the Hariri Tribunal.

There could do not be a better sign of the security anxiety that ministers and politicians of the 14^th March Coalition are currently facing in Lebanon. Moving them all together to a fortified building is just a manifestation of the current crisis in Lebanon. It is an irony when the sign of power – politically and spatially – becomes a sign of weakness.

The 14^th of March Coalition looks indeed very feeble; the group has –so far- lost a number of its prominent members since the attacks started on Marwan Hemadeh in December 2004. Politicians, Ministers and MPs are under continuous stress of an attack or an assassination. And they are quite right to fear their lives with the list of fallen colleagues growing.

If the ruling majority succeeds in passing the Hariri Tribunal peacefully, Lebanon would be spared from dire consequences.

Hands off The Lebanon

Steve Bell in today's The Guardian - 22.11.2006

Political Violence; Again

Breaking News

Again, Lebanon is facing a new act of political violence. Today (Tuesday 21.11.2006) Pierre Gemayel, Minister of Trade and Industry and MP for the Maronite seat in Metn District, was assassinated by gunmen in an eastern suburb of Beirut.

The 34 years old Gemayel, a son of former president Amin Gemayel, comes from a traditional Maronite Christian family. He was a prominent member of the 14th March coalition and a vocal critic of Syrian role in Lebanon.

Lebanon is indeed in the midst of political crisis.

Blog team will be posting regularly from Lebanon with critical analysis of the current affairs.