24 January 2008

BKIRKI: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said Wednesday that many plans were being drawn up for Lebanon, and complained that some Lebanese were implementing them.

"This is unacceptable," Sfeir told a delegation of Lebanese Forces members from Akkar. "We ask God to replace these days by peaceful ones and to guide us to the right path so all the Lebanese work hand in hand in an effort to recover our independent, free and peaceful Lebanon," he added.

Sfeir also voiced hope that the Lebanese people strengthen their confidence in each other and in the country.

"We want a state of peace and not a state of war," the prelate said. "We are brothers no matter what and brothers deal with each other with love and support."

Also Wednesday, Sfeir continued to receive visitors who expressed solidarity with the patriarch following criticism of him by former Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh last week.

During an interview last Wednesday, Franjieh, who heads the Marada Movement described Sfeir as an employee of the American and French diplomatic missions. Franjieh also urged the patriarch to resign.

Sfeir also met Wednesday with Italian Ambassador Gabriel Checchia to discuss the latest developments in the country and bilateral relations. No comments were released after the meeting.

Meanwhile, senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Wednesday that Lebanon's "political landscape is still planted with American mines," accusing the US administration of planning to sow chaos in the region.

"These US mines are meant to explode so they spread a mobile chaos in the entire region," Fadlallah said.

According to Fadlallah, the administration of US President George W. Bush does not want the "resistant Lebanon" to enjoy real freedom and independence after it "defeated" Israel in the summer 2006 war.

Stressing the need to support the resistance, the cleric said that "we need a resistance project on the cultural level."

"We need a project that carries the bright horizons of Islam and defies legends that try to destroy the Islamic structure," Fadlallah added.

He also criticized the Arabs for "standing still" amid Israeli attacks on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"This pushes us to reinforce and support all resistant movements in Palestine and Lebanon, as well as any noble resistant or opposition movements ready to reject occupation and confront projects aiming at invading nations and controlling their decisions," he said.

Higher Shiite Council vice president Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan urged Lebanon's politicians on Wednesday to stop "harmful" speeches and to serve their country's interests.

"The Lebanese should boost cooperation to protect their country," Qabalan said. "They should also confirm their affiliation to their country because it is our last resort."

In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, Qabalan called Abbas Zaki, the Palestine Liberation Organization representative in Lebanon, to discuss the latest developments.

"A solidarity movement with the Palestinians should be held to put an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza," Qabalan said.

Copyright The Daily Star 2008.