BEIJING, Dec. 1 -- The leader of Hezbollah says Lebanon's Western-backed government has failed, and is calling for peaceful protests to force it to resign. In response, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora has warned that the country's democracy is in danger, but he's stressing he will safeguard the government as well as democracy.
Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah accused Seniora's government of incompetence and failure.
He said the government was just a semblance of a legal framework, and existed to rubber-stamp decisions made by the leadership of the March 14th coalition.
He also accused the government of representing only a certain portion of multi-sectarian Lebanon, and called for Lebanese protests to bring it down.
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, said "A national unity government must be formed. Then we are all invited, you the Lebanese from all different areas, political leanings, factions and backgrounds, ideologies, beliefs and religions and movements, for a peaceful and civilized protest."
This has become identified with his call for Hezbollah and its allies to gain a veto-wielding share of the Cabinet.
Shortly after Nasrallah's call, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Seniora warned that Lebanon's democracy was in danger.
Fuad Seniora, Lebanese prime minister, expressed, "We will not allow them to topple the democratic system, its organizations and its basis. We will not accept a state inside a state. We are deep-rooted in our legitimate and constitutional government for all of Lebanon and for all the Lebanese."
Seniora, who is backed by the United States and an anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, has been locked in a political power struggle with Hezbollah, which is supported by Syria and Iran, and its allies.
Meanwhile, the leader of Lebanon's anti-Syrian bloc warned on Thursday that Syria was behind planned Hezbollah protests to bring down the government, trying to restore its power in the country.
(Source: CCTV)
