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Friday, November 23, 2007       Free Headline Alerts

U.S. diplomats warned as Hizbullah threat to weakening Beirut government grows

WASHINGTON — The United States has restricted the movement of its diplomats in Lebanon as European Union states prepare to pull out from its peace-keeping mission and the Hizbullah threat to the Beirut government increases.

Officials said EU states have concluded that Lebanon would become much more dangerous amid the resurgence of Hizbullah and the collapse of the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. They said the Lebanese Army, particularly in the south, was increasingly regarded as aligned with Hizbullah and could no longer be relied upon to protect the 13,500 UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

Officials said the U.S. embassy in Beirut has banned staffers from traveling throughout most of Lebanon, including its capital, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the embassy has concluded that Americans could come under attack amid a confrontation between the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and pro-Syrian elements.

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"The embassy is limiting the movement of embassy personnel during this time, specifically in downtown Beirut near the parliament building and other government offices," the embassy said in a warden message on Nov. 17.

The warden message said the embassy was restricting all but essential travel to Beirut International Airport from Nov. 20 to Nov. 26. During this period, Siniora was expected to convene parliament for a vote on a successor to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.

On Nov. 24, Lahoud's tenure was scheduled to end. Parliament was also expected to select a new prime minister and Cabinet, which could spark violence. The embassy also urged Americans to keep away from popular spots and remain vigilant.

"Even after November 26, U.S. citizens should remain vigilant and follow political developments closely, in particular if parliament does not elect a president by November 24," the embassy said.

After being deployed for nearly 14 months, European Union states were examining a timetable for a withdrawal from a United Nations peace-keeping mission in Lebanon.

"There could be a withdrawal in early 2008," an official said. "It's very much on the agenda."

[On Nov. 12, a French soldier in UNIFIL was killed in what was termed an accidental weapon discharge. Another soldier was wounded in the incident.]

In mid-2007, at least six UNIFIL troops were killed in bombings attributed to Al Qaida or other insurgents in southern Lebanon. Since then, UNIFIL has significantly reduced its activities in southern Lebanon and coordinates all patrols with the Lebanese Army.

On Nov. 15, a Lebanese newspaper, A-Safir, reported that Al Qaida struck UN troops in an effort to sow discord between peace-keepers and the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah. The pro-Hizbullah newspaper also said an Al Qaida cell, which included a Libyan national, also sought to assassinate Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah.

Officials said the first country to withdraw much of its troops could be Germany. Germany was scheduled to transfer command of the UNIFIL naval contingent in February 2008.

The showdown between pro- and anti-Syrian forces in parliament could accelerate the downsizing of UNIFIL. In early November, UNIFIL commander Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano warned Lebanese politicians that the continued political crisis could prompt EU states to "withdraw from UNIFIL within less than four months."

On Nov. 14, Graziano denied that he warned that UN forces would leave Lebanon over the next few months. He stressed that UNIFIL's mandate was scheduled to end in July 2008.

"Until that time, UNIFIL is staying in the south," Graziano told the Beirut-based Daily Star. "What is more, we are awaiting the arrival of additional forces to support the current ones."

On Nov. 15, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon arrives in Beirut to discuss continued delays in holding presidential elections. Ban was expected to urge Lebanese leaders to resolve the issue before the mandate of President Emile Lahoud expires on Nov. 23.

Israel has agreed with the assessment that UNIFIL was preparing a sharp troop reduction. Officials cited UNIFIL exercises to enhance force protection at the expense of patrols and efforts to block weapons smuggling south of the Litani River.

"UNIFIL has long stopped patrolling at night and there hasn't been a major weapons seizure in months," an official said.



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