Diplomatic Efforts Increased Amid Protests in Beirut
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BEIRUT, Lebanon — Arab and European diplomatic efforts to help ease Lebanon’s political tensions intensified yesterday, the fourth day of a sit-in protest organized by the militant Hezbollah that has paralyzed central Beirut.
Soldiers and police, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, continued to surround government headquarters in a protective cordon.
The political standoff between Prime Minister Siniora’s government and the opposition, led by Hezbollah, turned violent Sunday, leaving a Shiite man dead from gunshot wounds and 21 others injured. As tensions rose, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa held separate meetings Sunday with leaders of the feuding sides, including Mr. Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, whose Shiite political party is allied to the Hezbollah-led pro-Syria camp.
Mr. Moussa also held a midnight meeting with personal representatives of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and was expected to meet with President Lahoud at the presidential palace.
No details of the talks were disclosed, but Lebanon’s Al-Nahar newspaper quoted Mr. Moussa as saying he was not carrying an initiative but “proposing ideas, hoping to formulate a framework” to help the country emerge from the current crisis.
“National consensus is the basis for any Arab action. We are working for Lebanon and must work things out on the basis of national unity,” Mr. Moussa said. Although the open-ended sit-in that began Friday has been peaceful, it has increased anxiety in this multi-sectarian society that the political impasse could erupt into sectarian violence.
Mr. Siniora, emboldened by Arab and international support for his Americanbacked government, vowed on Sunday to stay in office despite the ongoing protests. He warned that any attacks on Cabinet headquarters where he and several of his ministers were staying could spark sectarian fighting.
Mr. Siniora met Sunday with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, who offered support for the embattled government. Mr. Steinmeier arrived yesterday in Damascus, where aides said he would stress the importance of recognizing Lebanon’s sovereignty if Damascus wants to remove itself from international isolation.
