Under a security plan to begin Tuesday morning, the Downtown area around Parliament is to be sealed off to unauthorized vehicle traffic, restaurants closed and traffic diverted to other roads. Security forces will ferry legislators between the legislature and the hotel.

Others will protect lawmakers coming in from the airport, returning from sites abroad where they have gone for their safety.

Syria was forced to pull out its troops and end its three-decade domination of Lebanon after the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Walid Jumblatt, a leader of the parliamentary majority, was quoted in Sunday's Ash-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper as claiming that a plan existed to kill more majority MPs "so a pro-Syrian president is elected." - AFP


Security forces clamp lockdown on area around Parliament


One day before the deeply divided Parliament meets for talks on electing a president, security forces laid down an elaborate plan, sealing off Downtown Beirut to allow lawmakers to move safely from

the heavily guarded hotel they currently reside in to the Parliament building a kilometer away for

Tuesday's session.

At least 40 pro-government MPs have moved into the Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel, which is surrounded by concrete blocks and security forces. Two armored police vehicles were posted on intersections across from the Phoenicia Monday.

Damascus accuses March 14 of following American, Israeli orders


DAMASCUS: Syria accused Lebanon's anti-Syrian parliamentary majority Monday of trying to sabotage the presidential polls in a grab for power in the country.

The government daily Tishrin said Syria would "accept the decision of the Lebanese people," but accused the majority of seeking to escalate tensions prior to the election, and "violating the Lebanese Constitution in order to monopolize power."

"Syria won't intervene in Lebanese internal affairs, particularly in a presidential election," Tishrin said.

But it said "things in Lebanon are not going in the right direction" and accused the US and Israel of pulling the government's strings in Beirut.

"The US and Israel are interfering directly in Lebanese internal affairs in pushing for the violation of the Constitution to elect a president according to a special formula," it said.

It added that the parliamentary majority "is being pushed by the United States and Israel to strike at the unity of Lebanon in sabotaging the presidential election."

Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt called for electing a president who respects the principles of sovereignty, freedom, independence and justice, adding that by simply taking part in Tuesday's session, the March 14 Forces do not give up what he described as their "right" to elect a president with a simple majority of MPs.

Speaking to his Progressive Socialist Party's Al-Anbaa, newspaper, Jumblatt said that with the start of the constitutional grace period to elect a new president, the countdown has begun for Lebanon to enter a new political period, starting with electing a new president.

"Surrendering our right to elect a president by means our submission to their preconditions," Jumblatt said referring to the opposition. "They threaten to boycott if we do not agree in advance ... This will hold presidential elections hostage to their whims and interests, which we will never accept."

Presidential candidate MP Robert Ghanem, who met with Sfeir on Monday, told reporters after the meeting that the presidential election will either be a door to a solution or a door to the abyss. "I will take part in Tuesday's session since I called on all MPs to take part and not to boycott the session, despite the fact that boycotting is a democratic right," Ghanem said.

He added that if boycotting a session is a political tactic to arrive at a solution, it would be justified, but if it is for any other reasons then it would be unjustified. Ghanem said it is important not to sever links between the Lebanese but to unite them, adding that he would not accept to be elected president with a simple majority of half plus one of MPs.

"Even if an electoral session is not held tomorrow, then at least there will be a dialogue, a meeting of MPs and discussion, all of which will help us reach a solution," Ghanem said, adding that he anticipates a "calm dialogue" Tuesday.

After meeting Berri, Feltman told reporters that the main reason for his visit was to convey his country's condolences on the slaying of one more MP in Lebanon.

Feltman expressed the United States' confidence in the Parliament and its speaker to elect a president that represents Lebanon's higher interests.

"We offered our assistance to create a suitable atmosphere, but we stressed that the decision regarding who will be the new president is a Lebanese decision and not a matter for the Americans to control," Feltman said.

He added that the threat against MPs is very real as the assassination of Ghanem proved. Feltman said MPs are taking a courageous step, despite the dangers, to do their duty toward the Lebanese people and move the country forward.

"The assassination of MP Antoine Ghanem proves that some are ready to do anything to hamper presidential elections and plunge Lebanon in chaos; we must thwart this criminal plot," Baran said, adding the only appropriate response is continuing dialogue and the constant search for a solution based on consensus between the Lebanese.

"It is time for all Lebanese to prove they are responsible and to be practical and to initiate tangible steps to elect a president within the constitutional time frame," Baran said, reaffirming that France and the international community stand alongside Lebanon. Baran hoped presidential elections signal a new era in Lebanon, one in which the Lebanese affirm their independence, sovereignty and unity.

Baran also met parliamentary majority leader MP Saad Hariri in Qoreitem.

Meanwhile, Premier Fouad Siniora called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Monday to discuss the latest developments.

Berri chaired an extraordinary meeting of the Liberation and Development Bloc on Monday which issued a statement affirming that the bloc's MPs will attend Tuesday's Parliament session, but whether they will meet with other MPs in the main hall depends on the results of continuing consultations.

The announcement came hot on the heels of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's news conference Monday in which Geagea said if Berri's MPs fail to attend the electoral session he would conclude Berri was never serious about convening an electoral session and his initiative only aimed to mislead the parliamentary majority.

The speaker also met separately Monday with both French Charges d'Affaires Andre Baran and US Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman, who paid him a visit in Ain al-Tineh. After his meeting Baran said the speaker is determined to continue his efforts without pause to find a way out of the current crisis.

"I do not say this only to reassure people. I have always reassured and will continue to do so, but in the end, you can't clap with one hand," Berri said, referring to the need for the ruling majority to respond favorably. The speaker promised a consensus candidate would be elected before the end of the two-month constitutional grace period. "When I say a president will be elected by consensus between the Lebanese, he will not be against any individual or party in Lebanon, he will be for everyone," Berri said

He said that if a consensus candidate is chosen, he will support any and all such candidate, adding that consensus remains his only candidate.