Naharnet Newsdesk - Lebanon Prepares for 'Confrontation Phase-3' between Opposition and Majority

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Lebanon Prepares for 'Confrontation Phase-3' between Opposition and Majority
The Hizbullah-led opposition and the March 14 majority alliance that backs Premier Fouad Saniora's government were on a collision course Sunday, heading to a major test of popularity in a couple of days.
The majority is setting the stage for what its sources term "a grand day of work" on Tuesday, the day set by the March 8 and Free Patriotic Movement opposition for what it hopes to be a "general strike," or the third phase of its open-ended protest to topple the Saniora government.

Soon after the calls by the opposition and the pro-March 8 General Federation of Labor Unions (GFLU) for the Tuesday general strike, the majority responded by urging its supporters to boycott the protest and report to work, normally.

However, the confrontation, that has been heating up since the opposition launched its open-ended protest to topple the Saniora government on Dec. 1, appears to be heading to some sort of a popularity test putting Christian factions of both camps at loggerheads.

The Supreme Chairman of the Phalange Party, ex-President Amine Gemayel, and Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea, were fast in calling their supporters to ignore the strike call.

Gemayel urged "all … to go to work on Tuesday as they usually do and to increase productivity."

Geagea, on his part, told his supporters in a televised statement that "the opposition has called for a general strike, this is their right … and it is your right too to go to work. Be scared of nothing."

The charismatic Geagea stepped up his call saying: "Shops will be open. Even sick people should go to work. Let the popularity of each faction be known."

Meanwhile, Christian opposition figures held a meeting late Saturday at the residence of FPM leader Gen. Michel Aoun in Rabieh to coordinate their action plan for Tuesday.

The meeting was also attended by former cabinet minister Suleiman Franjieh, and parliamentary deputies Elias Skaff and Michel Murr.

Aoun stressed after the meeting that there will be a general strike on Tuesday.

He did not answer questions as to whether followers of the opposition would take to the streets, block roads and force people to observe the strike.

However, the committees of merchants in Beirut and north Lebanon said they would not abide by the strike call, stressing in two separate statements that Tuesday would be a "normal working day."

Committees representing bankers, the industrial sectors, teaching institutes and other aspects of life are to hold a series of meetings on Monday to decide on whether to abide by the strike call or reject it.

A western diplomat told Naharnet that Tuesday will be a "test of popularity in Lebanon."

The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said "the whole world will be watching Lebanon on Tuesday to assess the popularity of each faction, the March 8 and the March 14. We will see who represents what. It would be some sort of a Lebanese style poll."

"What remains to be seen is whether this whole challenge would be peaceful and democratic," the diplomat added.

Beirut, 21 Jan 07, 10:08


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