Car bomb rocks Beirut Christian area complicates efforts to form new Lebanon
government
AP Worldstream
Mar 19, 2005
JOSEPH PANOSSIAN
Investigators searched for clues Saturday amid the rubble of a car
bombed building in a largely Christian neighborhood in Beirut, an
attack that sparked fears of renewed bloodshed in Lebanon and
complicated already troubled negotiations between rival political
groups over the formation of a new government.
The attack wounded nine people and came amid the withdrawal of Syrian
troops to eastern Lebanon and Syria after a 29-year presence in this
former civil war-ravaged country. The redeployments followed intense
international and local opposition to Syria’s role in Lebanon since
the Feb. 14 assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri in a massive
bombing that killed 17 others.
The motive behind the attack wasn’t immediately clear, but it
devastated an eight-story residential building in Beirut’s New Jdeideh
neighborhood shortly after midnight and sent panicked residents
wearing pajamas and night gowns into the street to inspect the damage.
It also played to concerns among some Lebanese that pro-Syrian
elements might resort to violence to show, in their view, the need for
a continued presence by Damascus forces. Hundreds of thousands of
Lebanese have been participating in demonstrations for and against
Syria since Hariri was killed. Anti-Syrian opposition demonstrations
have included large numbers of Maronite Christians.
“This has been the message to the Lebanese people for a while _ to sow
fear and terror among Lebanese citizens,” Christian opposition member
Pierre Gemayel told Al-Jazeera satellite television. The message is
“if there is a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, look what Lebanon will
face.”
Police closed all entrances leading to the blast site and blocked
onlookers from nearing the devastated building. After sunrise,
residents began clearing debris and inspecting their damaged shops and
homes, sweeping broken glass and throwing out twisted metal and rubble
thrown by the explosion.
Security officials said on condition of anonymity the blast was caused
by a time-bomb placed underneath a car belonging to a
Lebanese-Armenian resident of the damaged building. It was unclear
where the car owner was nor why the bomb was placed under his vehicle.
Earlier, witnesses said the car attempted to stop in front of a bingo
hall, but security guards asked its driver to move along. The driver
then parked the car a short way down the road. Minutes later it
exploded.
In a statement, Lebanon’s pro-Syrian president, Emile Lahoud, made no
mention of the attack, saying only that Lebanon was experiencing
“exceptional circumstances” that required “immediate and direct
dialogue” between opposition and pro-government groups.
Lahoud said Lebanon’s various political factions must “shoulder their
historic responsibilities in protecting the higher interests of
Lebanon at this critical stage.”
“The doors of the presidential palace will be open at any time to host
such a meeting starting today,” he said.
Opposition legislator Fares Soeid dismissed the president’s
invitation. “It’s too late. This subject is closed,” he said in a
televised interview.
Political demands from factions for and against Syria have bogged down
efforts to form a new government, raising concerns the deadlock could
threaten upcoming elections and even Syria’s final withdrawal.
Pro-Damascus premier-designate Omar Karami has insisted on a “national
unity” government, but the anti-Syrian opposition is refusing to join
before its demands are met. The opposition wants a neutral Cabinet to
arrange for elections, the resignation of security chiefs and an
international investigation into Hariri’s death.
Some opposition members accuse Karami of stalling to kill chances of
holding an election they believe the pro-Syrian camp will lose.
Walid Jumblatt, an opposition leader, said parliamentary polls should
be held as planned for April and May.
“Why postpone the parliamentary elections? Let them hold the elections
according to the electoral law they deem suitable, but we will not
participate in the government,” he told Future Television.
Saturday’s explosion blew off the fronts of some structures, left a
seven-foot-deep crater, damaged parked cars and shops and shattered
windows for several blocks.
“We were sleeping when it happened,” said a white-haired man, wearing
blue pajamas, who declined to be identified. “We don’t know what and
why. No one important lives here.”
The intensity of the political battle over Syria’s troops has raised
fears of a return to the sectarian violence of the 1975-90 civil
war. So far, however, the political camps do not conform to religious
boundaries, with Christians and Muslims on both sides of the debate.
On Thursday, Syria completed the first phase of its withdrawal in
Lebanon, redeploying all its remaining soldiers and military
intelligence officers to the eastern Bekaa Valley. Of the 14,000
troops that were in Lebanon last month, at least 4,000 soldiers have
returned to Syria.
At the United Nations, Maronite Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir said that
Syria had given assurances it would withdraw its troops before the
country’s elections, as U.N. and American officials want.