Political battle looms in Lebanon

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Political battle looms in Lebanon

By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer
45 minutes ago

BEIRUT, Lebanon - After yet another assassination, Lebanon's
anti-Syrian politicians accuse the government in Damascus of
trying to end their rule by killing members of the parliamentary
majority one by one.

This week's slaying of anti-Syrian lawmaker Walid Eido in a
massive Beirut car bombing has sparked a new political battle
here, fueling rifts that are putting Lebanon's democracy at
the risk of a total breakdown.

With Eido's death, U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's
majority in parliament has been whittled down to only four
seats. If he loses those — either by deaths or defections
— his government could fall, a goal of the pro-Syrian
opposition led by the Hezbollah militant group.

-snip-

On Saturday, Saniora's Cabinet called for a by-election to be
held Aug. 5 for Eido's seat and that of Industry Minister and
lawmaker Pierre Gemayel, who was assassinated in November,
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said.

Lahoud's signature will be needed to ask parliament to approve
the by-election, but he refused to provide it after Gemayel's
slaying in November.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070616/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_3