Gulf News – December 3, 2006
Beirut: Thousands of protesters from Hezbollah and its allies on Sunday spent a second night camping out in central Beirut to protest against the Western-backed government.
Lebanon's political crisis showed no sign of easing, with the pro-Syrian opposition pressing its protest campaign to topple Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government.
"We are not letting them (ministers) sleep, we're disturbing them with our noise. We have the resilience to stay not for one month, but a year or two," said Ahmed Kayello, a protester.
Breakfast vendors parked on pavements, some protesters read newspapers, and long queues formed behind portable latrines, a morning after thousands cried for Siniora's resignation during a late Saturday night rally.
Siniora reiterated he will not be forced to resign and had received backing from the visiting German and British foreign ministers and calls of support from Arab leaders and Western officials.
"This government won an election and has the majority in parliament and therefore whoever wants to keep democracy in the country can't allow this government to be called into question in the streets," said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.
Political sources from both camps said there were no serious moves to find a solution to the deadlock as both sides stuck to their positions.
"We don't expect the showdown to be resolved any time soon," one source said.
www.gulfnews.com/region/Lebanon/10086929.html
Last updated 03/12/2006
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