Lebanese Druze Throw Support to Hezbollah

Lebanon’s Druze Leader Backs Hezbollah

VoA News: Lebanon's Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, has thrown his support to Hezbollah ahead of crisis talks to choose a new prime minister.

Jumblatt, a long-time opponent of Hezbollah, said Friday he is backing Hezbollah in order to preserve national stability. Hezbollah's militant Islamists forced the collapse of Lebanon's government last week when they resigned from the ruling coalition.

Despite demands by Hezbollah for his resignation, interim Prime Minister Saad Hariri is trying to retain his government leadership. Hariri's supporters and Hezbollah hold nearly equal blocs in parliament, so Jumblatt's decision to back Hezbollah could be a deciding factor in any leadership vote.

Jumblatt leads a group of 11 parliament deputies, but it is unclear how many members of his Progressive Socialist Party will follow his lead.

Parliamentary talks on the current political stalemate are due to begin Monday, but there have been calls for their postponement.

Lebanon's political unrest is tied to expected indictments by a U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the assassination six years ago of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the current prime minister's father.

Many Lebanese expect the U.N. tribunal to charge Hezbollah members with Hariri's murder. The militant group has denied it had a role in the attack.

Al- Manar television quotes Jumblatt as saying the tribunal has “deviated” from a course of justice and become a “tool of sabotage.”