Lebanese rival lawmakers hold contrary rallies in parliament

Lebanese pro- and anti-government legislators held opposite rallies in parliament on Tuesday, claiming respective propositions -- establishing an international tribunal on ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and forming a national unity cabinet.

Reading a written statement, Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari, a member of pro-government majority, pleaded with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to convene the house to ratify the UN-backed court to try suspects in 2005 Hariri's assassination.

The convention for the tribunal was passed by the government in November, but still needs to be ratified by parliament.

However, the opposition argued that the government's adoption of the convention was null and void because it was passed with the absence of ministers from Shiite community who resigned before the voting.

"There is an ethical and national issue put forward in parliament, it is the international tribunal issue," Makari said.

In response to the statement by parliamentary majority, the opposition hit back by saying only a national unity cabinet was the solution to Lebanon's political crisis.

A statement read by Nabil Nicola, member of Michel Aoun's parliamentary bloc which is part of the opposition, accused the majority of plotting a "coup" against the constitution and " aborting chances" of a settlement.

Lebanese parliament convenes twice a year in two ordinary sessions -- the first starts mid-march until the end of May and the second from the middle of October through the end of December.

Berri, a key leader of opposition, has declined to convene a parliamentary session and has refused to receive any documents referred to parliament by Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's majority government.

The political crisis in Lebanon was aroused when the opposition demanded a veto in the government and the majority demanded the establishment of the international tribunal for Hariri's assassination.

During the four-month crisis, wrangles between the two rival political blocs have escalated to street violence between their supporters.

Source: Xinhua