Saniora: State Would Not Fall to Those Who Have Carried Out “Armed Coup”
Premier Fouad Saniora has reassured the Lebanese that their state would not fall under the control of coup launchers, and offered an initiative to end Beirut”s seizure by opposition gunmen.
Saniora, in a televised address to the nation Saturday, recalled that "we had toppled the republic of fear" in reference to the Syrian-dominated rule of Lebanon.
He pledged that such dominance "would not (be allowed to) return."
Saniora accused Hizbullah of launching war "on the state and the people" and proposed a five-point "intro to a settlement."
He said the dream of democracy in Lebanon has been dealt "a poisonous stab by the armed coup carried out by Hizbullah and its allies."
The Saniora initiative called for placing the two controversial government decisions in the hands of the Army command, withdrawing gunmen from the streets and assigning police and the army to enforce law and order.
The initiative also called for the immediate election of a consensus president, the formation of a national unity government in which the opposition does not have veto powers and the majority does not have the power to adopt decisions.
Saniora also called all media organizations to adopt a "code of honor" halting all campaigns and counter campaigns.
The prime minister urged the Lebanese to observe a minute of silence at 12 noon Sunday for the souls of those killed during the clashes between pro- and anti-government forces, stressing that participants should raise Lebanese flags.
He reiterated that his government would not resign, contrary to what the Hizbullah-led opposition hopes for.
"We had thought that Israel is the source of the imminent threat to our country … but the present experience shows that our homes and democratic system are taken over by brethren who believe in armed violence."
"We and the Lebanese people do not accept that Hizbullah and its weapons remain in the present status," Saniora declared.
"None of us is neutral," Saniora added.