Nasrallah: US and Israel caused Lebanese gov't collapse

Hizbullah leader accuses Hariri of betraying agreement on murder probe, says he brought down government "in a civilized way."

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hizbullah Nasrallah on TV 311 AP (photo credit: Associated Press)
Hizbullah Nasrallah on TV 311 AP
(photo credit: Associated Press)
BEIRUT — The leader of Hizbullah defended the decision to bring down Lebanon's Western-backed government, saying the Shi'ite militant group did so without resorting to violence and will not be intimidated by world reaction.
In his first comments since the government collapse on Wednesday, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah also said Sunday that his bloc will not support Sa'ad Hariri returning to his post as prime minister in talks Monday on forming a new government.
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"We carried out a constitutional, legal and democratic step to bring down the government. We did not use weapons," Nasrallah said in a televised speech. "We are not scared of speeches, statements or anyone's threats in this world."
Eleven ministers allied to Hizbullah resigned from the Cabinet on Wednesday, enough to force the government to fall.
The crisis is the climax of long-simmering tensions over the UN tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The court is expected to indict members of Hizbullah, which could re-ignite hostilities between Lebanon's rival Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims. Rafik Hariri was a Sunni.
Hizbullah is Lebanon's most powerful military force, with an arsenal that far outweighs that of the national army.
Sa'ad Hariri had refused Hizbullah's demands to cease cooperation with the court, prompting Wednesday's walkout.
Nasrallah's speech was seen as important sign of his movement's mindset at a time when many fear the country's political tension could descend into civil strife. His demeanor was calm and he emphasized that Hizbullah will work for change through democratic means.
The US has denounced Hizbullah's walkout as a transparent effort to subvert justice.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the turmoil in Lebanon
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the turmoil in Lebanon
"The tribunal is an independent, international judicial process whose work is not subject to political influence, either from inside Lebanon or from outside," US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly said Sunday after meeting with Hariri. "The efforts by the Hizbullah-led coalition to collapse the Lebanese government only demonstrate their own fear and determination to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty and independence."
Since his ouster, Hariri has tried to rally international support in the US, France and Turkey.
The leaders of Turkey, Qatar and Syria will meet in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday to discuss the political crisis, Turkey's Anatolia news agency reported.
Lengthy negotiations lie ahead between Lebanon's Western-backed blocs and the Hizbullah led-alliance. If those fail, Lebanon could see a resurgence of the street protests and violence that have bedeviled the country in the past.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman will launch formal talks Monday on creating a new government, polling lawmakers on their choice before nominating a prime minister. According to Lebanon's power-sharing system, the president must be a Christian Maronite, the prime minister a Sunni and the parliament speaker a Shiite.
Each faith makes up about a third of Lebanon's population of 4 million.