Beirut (AsiaNews) – The Maronite bishops have strongly condemned the "confusion" currently reigning in Lebanon around key issues regarding the country's future, like the formation of an international tribunal to try political crimes committed since 2004, replacing the government of Fouad Siniora and a new electoral law.

The bishops gathered yesterday for their monthly meeting at Bkerke under the chairmanship of the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. Among the items on their agenda was tackling the latest controversies stoked by the statements of the Lebanese President. Emile Lahoud in effect declared his opposition to a Bill of Statutes of the international UN tribunal charged with trying those responsible for 14 attacks carried out in Lebanon in 2004 and 2005. He said the bill "contradicts Article 52 of the Constitution that entrusts to the President of the Republic the ordinary competence of negotiating international agreements". His statement is seen by anti-Syrian parties as a bid to block the setting up of the tribunal, which could end up by trying high-ranking leaders from Damascus and perhaps, Lahoud himself.

In their final statement, the Maronite bishops expressed "regret" about the confusion reigning in Lebanon and the division of Lebanese into antagonistic factions whose wishes are not clearly understood. They noted the division over the international tribunal, the fact that the government wants to replace or change the electoral law and other political matters. They said the situation demanded that the Lebanese people ensured national interest prevailed over particular interests in order to find a solution.

The document also noted that "the Israelis continue to violate Lebanese airspace, despite the presence of the interposition Force of the United Nations, using the pretext that weapons are still being supplied to armed groups across the Lebanese border. This is not a situation that inspires confidence, rather the contrary: it gives rise to fears of a resumption of hostilities, the evils of which all Lebanese are aware."

Patriarch Sfeir, who is pressing ahead in leading the Maronite Church with exceptional fortitude, did not keep back from sharing his concerns with his guests about the further deterioration in the national situation. He renewed his prudent invitation for "more monitoring of the positions of political leaders", who are seeking to "facilitate international interference and the preservation of regional forces in the country after the withdrawal of the Syrian army in April 2005."

Hezbollah's stated assessment of the current situation is very negative: "The country is like a volcano", said an MP of the Party of God, Hajj Hassan, as he was leaving the Lebanese Parliament. The secretary-general of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, in an interview with his television network "Al Manar", criticized the role of the Americans and some European countries before and after the war of 12 July. He rejected a 30 October statement by the Security Council, claiming that "the UN request on the necessity of disarming the Party of God constitutes an integral part of the new Middle East project, which has now failed thanks to the victory of the Party of God against Israel."

And today, while from Washington came a statement from the White House alleging a Syrian-Iranian plan to topple the Siniora government, the Muftì of Mount Lebanon, Mohammad Ali Jouzou, said: "All the heroic acts of Hezbollah are to the advantage of the Iranians and they bring no profit for the Arabs." In his view, Lebanon, through Hezbollah, "would be controlled by Iran". He was speaking during an encounter with youth of the Progressive Movement.