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Lebanon Crisis Could Lead to Two Governments
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Posted GMT 4-11-2007 14:30:28
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BEIRUT (Reuters) -- Lebanon's political crisis shows no sign of ending and the split between the governing coalition and its rivals, including Hezbollah, may result in two governments later this year, increasing the chances of conflict.

A resolution of the five-month standoff hinges on a wider regional power struggle between Iran and the United States, which back the rival factions, analysts say.

Talks last month failed to resolve Lebanon's worst crisis since its 1975-1990 civil war. The opposition, including groups allied to Syria, wants veto power in cabinet. The Western-backed government has refused to yield.

The prospect of another civil war has faded because neither the ruling coalition nor its opponents want a fight, analysts said, and the two sides have turned their focus to trying to gauge the direction of U.S. policy towards Iran, Syria and Iraq.

The rival camps accuse each other of working to foreign agendas to the detriment of Lebanon. Hezbollah describes the cabinet as a U.S. puppet while the governing coalition says the opposition takes orders from Iran and Syria.

"There is a time-buying game until they see how the regional situation will fare," said Oussama Safa of the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies. "Everyone is banking on a regional shock."


http://www.aina.org/news/2007041193028.htm