Opposition Proclaims First United Charter Since Civil War

Naharnet Lebanon's main opposition groups declared a joint political charter Monday, demanding an end to Syria's tutelage and the ouster of Premier Karami's government, pledging to stand united in the spring elections for a new parliament, a move unprecedented since the civil war guns fell silent in 1990. The declaration also calls for the release of jailed Lebanese Forces commander Samir Geagea and the return of exiled Gen. Michel Aoun and pledges to provide nation-wide protection to Hizbullah, rejecting the U.S. classification of the group as a terrorist organization. The declaration was announced in a tumultuous conference held at Beirut's heavily guarded Bristol Hotel at noon. Banding behind it were Druze leader Walid Jumblat's Progressive Socialist Party, The Qornet Shahwan coalition of Christian politicians, Geagea's LF, Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, Habib Sadek's Leftist Democratic Forum and Elias Attallah's Leftist Democratic Movement. Jumblat and his parliament bloc member Bassem Al Sabaa, a protégé of ex-Premier Hariri, were among the prominent speakers. The speakers also included Habib Sadek, who read out the charter, and ex-President Amin Gemayel, legislators Fares Soaid, Boutros Harb, Nassib Lahoud as well as An Nahar's General Manager Gebran Tueni from Qornet Shahwan. Among the speakers were also Tripoli legislator Musbah Al Ahdab, a Member of Nassib Lahoud's Democratic Renewal Movement, Elias Attallah and Ghattas Khoury of Hariri's bloc in parliament. But Khoury told the Voice of Lebanon radio station that he was attending in personal capacity, not as a Hariri representative. Aoun's FPM was invited to name a speaker for the conference, but the General turned down the invitation on the grounds he was not consulted about the charter. However, he gave the FPM the green light to attend. Strida Geagea also was invited to address the Bristol parley, but she apologized because she said she could not obtain her jailed husband's approval in time. The opposition charter admitted the difference of stances between Qornet Shahwan's insistence on a total Syrian military pullout and Jumblat's acceptance of Syrian troops in the Bekaa Valley to guard against an Israeli flank attack on Damascus. He shares, however, the demand for Syrian non-interference in Lebanese politics. This was the first time that a multi-confessional opposition front is formed since the 15-year civil war came to an end 14 years ago.