Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora said Saturday that Lebanon will not fall under the current deadly clashes in the country.
"Your country will not fall," Seniora pledged Lebanese in a live statement made in the government's headquarters in downtown Beirut, adding that Lebanese people will not return back to hegemony and terrorism.
"Our democratic dream was stabbed with poison from Hezbollah and its allies... We will not accept Hezbollah imposing its war onus or violate our streets and houses and kill our innocent people," he said.
The prime minister said the core of the problem with Hezbollah is that they want force their beliefs on the Lebanese without considering their will.
He stressed that the government will not back off from decisions adopted, because "we are not terrorized by Hezbollah weapons."
Hezbollah communication network can only work under state control, he added.
Seniora raised a five-point proposal to settle the issue, which includes placing the two government decisions in the hands of the army command, immediate withdrawal of gunmen from the streets, and immediate election of consensus president.
The prime minister's response came as the deadly clashes in Lebanon entered a fourth straight day on Saturday, which left at least 24 people dead and more than 80 others injured.
The riots erupted after the Lebanese cabinet decided Tuesday to cease the private communication network of Hezbollah and remove airport security chief Gen. Wafik Shqaier for alleged links to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah considered such decisions as "a declaration of war against the resistance."
Lebanon is currently facing the most serious political deadlock since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been vacant since Nov. 24 of 2007 when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down.
The presidency deadlock deepened the Lebanese political crisis as fears are mounting that failure in reaching a deal on the presidential candidate could result in more violence in the country.
Source: Xinhua
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