BEIRUT, Lebanon – Thousands of Hezbollah supporters set up camp in the heart of Beirut yesterday, starting an open-ended sit-in with a carnival atmosphere intended to pressure the U.S.-backed government of Fuad Saniora into resigning.
The political crisis, which has disrupted life in the Lebanese capital's commercial district and raised fears of violence between the country's pro-and anti-Syria forces, showed no sign of easing.
Holed up in his office about 50 yards from some protesters, Saniora made clear that he had no intention of stepping down and urged Hezbollah to abandon its protests.
“This government will continue as long as it enjoys the support and backing of the constitutional institutions in the country, most importantly Parliament,” said Saniora, who received support from European leaders.
He called on Hezbollah to resume negotiations over its demand for a bigger role in the government, but he offered no suggestions for how that might happen.
“Taking to the streets will not lead us anywhere. . . . There is just one way to solve our problems and that is to sit behind a table to discuss all our differences,” Saniora said. “Other than that it is a waste of time, waste of resources and waste of opportunities.”
As he spoke, thousands of Hezbollah loyalists clamored noisily around hundreds of white tents pitched in central Beirut, saying they would stay until Saniora's government fell. Shouts of “Saniora out!” occasionally rose from the protesters.
Hezbollah's support among Shiite Muslims skyrocketed after the strong showing of its guerrillas during the summer war with Israel, and that in part emboldened the group.
Six pro-Hezbollah ministers resigned from the Cabinet last month after Saniora and his slim anti-Syrian majority in Parliament rejected the group's demand for a new national unity government that effectively would give it and its allies veto power.
The current government is largely backed by Sunni Muslims and Christians who oppose involvement in the country's affairs by neighboring Syria, which was forced to end a nearly three-decade military occupation last year.
Saniora and his supporters call Hezbollah's campaign a coup attempt led by Syria and its ally Iran, a stance echoed by Washington, which is seeking to counter Iranian influence in a number areas of the Middle East.
Backing for Saniora also came from France, Britain, Italy, Germany, and from Arab leaders including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, according to a statement from Saniora's office.
After talks with the prime minister, visiting British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the government was elected by the Lebanese people.
“I believe the world community supports the constitutional government,” Beckett said.
In a telephone call, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin told Saniora he had “France's full support,” de Villepin's office said in a statement.
Italian Premier Romano Prodi in Rome also said that he spoke to Saniora and found him “determined to go on and resist intimidation.”
Syrian state-run newspapers voiced support for Hezbollah.
