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Lebanese lawmakers leave amid threats

By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer Sat Jun 30, 5:43 PM ET

BEIRUT, Lebanon - About 20 anti-Syrian lawmakers in Lebanon have temporarily left their conflict-ridden country this summer — apparently seeking safety abroad amid mounting security threats and the recent assassination of an outspoken politician.

An Associated Press count found more than two dozen lawmakers, many from the leading majority party bloc, have left Lebanon in the past 10 days. Some have returned, but about 20 remain abroad.

A senior Arab intelligence official said Lebanese lawmakers allied with U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora were advised to seek shelter elsewhere after names appeared on a hit list. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity.

Many have traveled to Egypt, an ally of the United States and Saniora's government, according to the official and others familiar with the travel plans.

On June 13, a car bomb killed lawmaker Walid Eido, a fierce critic of Syria. He was the seventh high-profile anti-Syrian figure assassinated in the last two years.

Pro-government leaders have accused Syria of killing Eido to undermine Saniora's government. Syria denies the accusations and has condemned the killing.

The Lebanese As-Safir newspaper, which leans toward the opposition that is led by the Hezbollah militant group, reported June 20 that "an Arab security agency chief has informed a number of leaders in the majority team that they should take summer vacation outside Lebanon."

Another pro-opposition newspaper, Al-Akhbar, on Friday reported that arrangements were being made to move 65 pro-government lawmakers, or more than half the legislature, as well as 35 other politicians to Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France. The report said party leaders would remain in Beirut.

One lawmaker from Lebanon's majority still in the country denied receiving warnings to leave, but added that some colleagues had done so for safety.

"Some lawmakers have left Lebanon temporarily because they don't have security capabilities to protect themselves," Samir Franjieh said. "There is no decision from our leadership or the Lebanese security authorities to leave the country. This is a self-made decision by members after the assassination of Eido to guarantee their own safety."

An atmosphere of apprehension has descended over Lebanon in recent weeks, with the army fighting al-Qaida-inspired militants up north, a car bombing that killed six peacekeepers in the south and half a dozen bombings in the Beirut area.

Saniora has been largely holed up with some members of his Cabinet at government headquarters in downtown Beirut, behind razor wires and troops. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah's whereabouts are a deep secret. Parliament speaker Nabih Berri rarely leaves his heavily guarded residence. And when in Beirut, Saad Hariri, leader of the majority party bloc and son of slain Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, lives in a fortified compound.

Recent U.S. statements also have highlighted the security concerns.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, after a recent meeting with Saniora in Paris, issued a veiled warning to Syria, saying a Lebanese-international tribunal created by the U.N. Security Council must be safe while it probes Hariri's 2005 murder.

The White House on Friday stepped up the pressure on Syria an its allies to stop what Washington says are attempts to destabilize its neighbor — banning the entry into America of some individuals. The White House listed 10 names that included Syria's intelligence chief and several low-level Lebanese politicians allied with Damascus.

The departure of legislators comes amid a deepening political crisis in Lebanon.

The pro-government camp wants to hold an election to fill the seats of Eido and Pierre Gemayel, a Cabinet minister and legislator killed by assassins on a suburban street in November.

Saniora's Cabinet has called a vote for Aug. 5. But President Emile Lahoud, a staunch ally of Syria and the Hezbollah-led opposition, is refusing to sign a decree calling for the balloting.

Another political crisis fast approaching involves the presidency.

The legislature must vote on a replacement when Lahoud's term ends in November. But it is highly unlikely that Lebanon's divided leaders can agree on a candidate, threatening a power vacuum or even worse — the creation of two rival governments.

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