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Pro-Syrian protests enter third day in Lebanese capital

Lebanon's political rift deepened yesterday as a protest led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah entered its third day, with the Western-backed government vowing to resist calls to resign.

The open-ended rally aims to bring down Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's government, which was deserted by six pro-Syrian ministers last month amid accusations of corruption and impotence after the July-August war with Israel.

Siniora and other leading lawmakers in the anti-Syrian parliament majority have pledged to maintain their elected posts as the deadlock tightens in Lebanon's fierce power struggle between pro- and anti-Syrian camps.

"Protest is no solution. I am going to stay as long as I am prime minister by the will of the majority," Siniora told reporters.

"We have to have hope," he added. "We don't know how long it [the protest] will last."

Several hundred opposition protesters from various Shiite and Christian factions camped on the doorstep of the government for a second straight night, following a mass protest on Friday calling for a new national unity government.

Thousands of people have been attending the rallies during the daytime hours, with fewer opting to sleep overnight in tents set up by Hezbollah-led organizers. Hundreds of thousands took part in Friday's march.

Traffic ground to a halt early yesterday in the center of the capital and many roads were closed as organizers staged the annual Beirut Marathon in spite of the protest.

Druze chief and anti-Syrian Member of Parliament Walid Jumblatt reiterated the government's call for a return to talks over Lebanon's tense political deadlock.

"We will be patient. When they are convinced there is no other way, when they make up their mind that only dialogue can lead to a breakthrough, then we will be ready for talks," he said.

The Siniora government has received strong public backing from Western and some Arab states, and Arab League chief Amr Mussa was set to hold talks in Beirut later yesterday to offer his services as a mediator.

The Saudi ambassador mediated between the two sides late on Friday and brokered the reopening of some access roads to Siniora's offices.
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