BEIRUT, 9 June 2006 — Lebanese leaders again put off any decision on the thorny issue of Hezbollah weapons after a four-hour meeting yesterday but agreed a “pact of honor” aimed at defusing tensions between pro- and anti-Syrian factions.
The national dialogue conference will now reconvene on June 29 to discuss UN Security Council demands for disarmament of the pro-Syrian Shiite militant group along with other armed factions in Lebanon, Parliament speaker Nabih Berri told reporters.
Delegates from across the political spectrum had discussed a new defense strategy for Lebanon “but discussions were not complete... given that some participants did not yet speak... so the session was adjourned,” he said.
Berri said that the cross-party talks had agreed on the “pact of honor” after the broadcast of a caricature of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by anti-Syrian Christian television station LBCI sparked violent protests by the group’s supporters.
At least three people were wounded and extensive damage caused to property during the disturbances in Beirut and other cities.
Delegates vowed to respect each other, refrain from insults and avoid triggering further political and confessional tensions, Berri said.
Members of the anti-Syrian majority in Parliament started to present a draft defense strategy that keeps decisions to “protect Lebanon” in the hands of the state and regular army.
