Beirut (AsiaNews) – As supporters of Hassan Nasrallah's Hizbollah and Nabib Berri's Amal celebrate their victory in southern Lebanon—a clean seep of all 23 seats—, an anti-Lahoud sit-in is suspended. The electoral battle now moves into Mount Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
The anti-Lahoud protest ended after Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir spoke during Sunday mass at Our Lady of Bkerke Basilica before a gathering of faithful from every region of the country.
The Patriarch spoke about the state of mind of the Lebanese, troubled by the latest events, especially the acts of violence that killed so many people: politicians, journalists and writers, including Samir Qasir, one of the greatest defender of freedom in the country.
"After this great figure, who will be next?" asked Cardinal Sfeir, who insisted on the need to shed light on these events.
Despite everything, he expressed his trust in everyone's conscience, urging all to keep faith and be patient because the "trying times shall be brief".
He rejected the accusations made against President Lahoud about his alleged involvement in the assassination of Samir Qasir and expressed his unease over the appeal made by many to organise a sit-in before the presidential palace.
"Those who have waited for 30 years can be patient for another 30 days," he said, warning against any constitutional amendment that would change the structures of the state. Instead, he reiterated his support for the existing institutions.
Demonstrators responded to Sfeir's appeal by stopping the sit-in near the presidential palace.
Speaking for the opposition, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said it will not burn steps "out of respect to the Patriarch".
For his part, President Émile Lahoud in a meeting with reporters denounced the campaign against him and the presidency. He said he was anguished by the fact that the voices raised against him come from people who benefited from the old regime, and reiterated that shortly light will be shed on recent events.
During yesterday's mass, Patriarch Sfeir spoke of the meaning of the Year of the Eucharist that the late John Paul II proclaimed last year—the year in which the Body and the Blood of Christ serve as nourishment for the Church.
He emphasised how that the Eucharist allows the Church to grow and brings new life to the faithful. For this reason, he urged everyone to approach the sacrament with the necessary preparation "because the Eucharist is a Source of Grace for those who receive it in a worthy manner".
As for yesterday's elections, the poll showed a relatively higher support for the process in southern Lebanon where the turnout stood at 45 per cent, thus highlighting regional differences. Many members of the National Assembly were elected by acclamation because of the lack of real democratic race. Christian and Sunni MNAs were elected in a largely Shiite region.
