Maronite Church Calls for Early Presidential Elections

Beirut, Updated 06 Dec 06, 18:57

The Maronite Church on Wednesday called for early presidential elections to
help settle the serious crisis which is threatening to split Lebanon.
The council of Maronite Bishops, in a declaration of the church's
principles, also urged leaders of the community and other Lebanese spiritual
groups to agree on a "code of honor" to settle differences through dialogue,
reject violence and armed confrontations and refrain from agitation.

The Maronite declaration of principles called for ratifying an agreement
with the United Nations on an International Tribunal to try suspects charged
with the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri and other related
"terrorist" crimes.

It warned against linking Lebanon to regional and international disputes and
called for the formation of an "entente government" to contain the explosive
situation.

If the entente government could not be formed, the statement noted, efforts
should be exerted to form a government of "independent" figures to adopt a
new elections law based on the principle of small electoral constituencies
that can "truly represent" the various Lebanese communities.

The statement also called for the full implementation of the Taef Accord,
which ended the Lebanese civil war in 1990, and stressed on the right of
Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.

The Maronite Church stressed on the need for settling the question of armed
Palestinian factions in Lebanon.

Commenting on Hizbullah's weapons, without mentioning the Shiite faction by
name, the statement said weapons in Lebanon should be "strictly controlled
by the legitimate security forces."

The council of Maronite Bishops also called for an urgent meeting of the
Lebanese parliament to tackle the serious crisis which is splitting the
nation.

The council, which held its monthly meeting at suburban Bkirki under
Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, called on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to
convene the house to deliberate the issue that has paralyzed constitutional
institutions.

The statement noted that the "confusing situation through which the Lebanese
are going is regrettable. Constitutional institutions have been paralyzed."

It said: "nothing is left except parliament, but it doesn't convene."

"That is why," the statement added, "we plead with its speaker Nabih Berri
to convene it so it may find a way out of the crisis."