Fadlallah slams improvised government

Source: Daily Star, 10-05-2008
BEIRUT: Senior Shiite Muslim cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Friday the current problem in Lebanon is not sectarian but rather political, warning Christian and Muslim religious figures against "falling into the trap of sectarian speeches that instigate strife."
In his weekly Friday sermon delivered from the Imamayn Hassanayn Mosque in Haret Hreik, Fadlallah urged Lebanese officials to manage internal dialogue in a way that preserves the country's balance, future and power and to protect civil peace, the national Islamic unity and resistance.
"We could have done without this difficult situation which was triggered by improvised governmental decisions that do not respond to the simplest bases of internal consensus and sectarian balance," Fadlallah said.
The Cabinet on Monday decided to remove the Beirut airport's security chief, General Wafik Shokeir, from his post and counter Hizbullah's private phone network.
"For many, such kinds of decisions imply further security disclosure which benefits the enemy to settle its account with the resistance," Fadlallah said.
"The resistance issue cannot be dealt with the way internal complications are handled. It should constitute a national concern that needs internal dialogue aiming at developing a defense strategy that protects Lebanon and its people against any attacks."
Lashing out at the US administration, Fadlallah said the international community, led by the US, was working on declaring war against the resistance in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq.