Fadlallah slams rigid political class, warns of more instability

Source: Daily Star, 15-12-2007
BEIRUT: Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Friday the Lebanese political class, with some exceptions, had failed in terms of strategic vision, while succeeding in returning to "rigid" opinions without regard for the people's situation or the country's future.
In his weekly Friday sermon from the Imam Hassanayn Mosque in Haret Hreik, Fadlallah said the country was still witnessing political discord amid an absence of confidence among the various political parties.
"Internal complications have returned to their peak, while the renewal of bombings has restored to the Lebanese the feelings of fear and concern about the deterioration of the security situation," he said. "This situation may open the horizon to assassinations in a bid to destabilize Lebanon's political and security situations." Fadlallah was referring to Wednesday's car bombing in Baabda that targeted the head of operations of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Francois Hajj.
"The Lebanese should look out and watch all suspicious movements [...] because it seems that the fate of this people is to assume the responsibility of self-protection on its own," Fadlallah said.
"Have mercy on this small country that is suffering on the internal level and witnessing regional and international interference that prevents it from being stable," Fadlallah said.
Meanwhile, the vice president of the Higher Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, called on politicians to forget their personal interests and reach agreement over the election of LAF commander General Michel Suleiman president.
"Politicians are also called to reach agreement over all other pending issues," Qabalan said in his weekly Friday sermon.
"We need serious work that rescues the country from divisions," he said, urging politicians to avoid "tense" speeches.
Expressing his grief over Hajj's killing, Qabalan said: "Hajj has fallen so Lebanon remains a sovereign and independent country."
"What happened in the Nahr al-Bared camp has been an honor for Lebanon, thanks to the Lebanese Army's bravery," he said. The army defeated the Fatah al-Islam terrorist group at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in North Lebanon in September.
"We have to support the army and cooperate with it because it constitutes the salvation of the country."