Lebanon: Overall political conditions in 2008

On 21 May 2008, the Lebanese government and opposition signed the Doha Agreement, an accord brokered by the Arab League (BBC 21 May 2008; Keesing's May 2008, 48606). The Doha Agreement brought to a close an 18-month political stalemate between the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition, and also ended the sectarian violence (VOA 8 Aug. 2008; Keesing's May 2008, 48606) between the Hezbollah-led opposition and supporters of the government that had resulted in the deaths of at least 67 people (AP 25 May 2008; USA Today 21 May 2008). The crisis had brought the country to the verge of civil war (RFI 26 May 2008; The Economist 24 May 2008).

One of the requirements of the Doha Agreement is the election of a Maronite Christian, General Michel Sleimane, as president (Keesing's May 2008, 48606; The Economist 24 May 2008). On 25 May 2008, the Lebanese parliament duly elected General Sleimane as president (Keesing's May 2008, 48606; RFI 26 May 2008; AP 25 May 2008). The country had been without a president for six months (ibid.; RFI 26 May 2008). An RFI article notes that the president has limited powers to effect change (26 May 008). The president is, for example, unable to dissolve Parliament or fire the prime minister, and although he presides over cabinet he does not have a right to vote in its decisions (RFI 26 May 2008).

Another provision of the Doha Agreement is the formation of a national unity cabinet (The Economist 24 May 2008; Middle East Economic Digest 29 Aug. 2008). A 30-seat national unity cabinet was formed on 11 July 2008 (Washington Post 12 July 2008; Reuters 11 July 2008). The distribution of seats in the unity cabinet was established in the Doha Agreement: 16 seats to the government, 11 seats to Hezbollah and its allies, and 3 seats to be appointed by the Lebanese president (CNN 11 July 2008; AP 28 May 2008; BBC 21 May 2008). The Doha Agreeement also provides the opposition with veto power (CNN 11 July 2008; BBC 21 May 2008). In August 2008, members of Parliament voted in support of the unity cabinet, thereby allowing the cabinet to commence work (BBC 12 Aug. 2008; France 24 12 Aug. 2008).

On 14 October 2008, Syria and Lebanon established formal diplomatic relations for the first time since they gained independence in the 1940's (CP 14 Oct. 2008; AFP 15 Oct. 2008). Syria had never recognized Lebanon as a legitimate state and had intervened militarily in Lebanon's civil war in the mid-1970s, retaining troops there for three decades (Guardian 15 Oct. 2008). Syria is a backer of Hezbollah (Guardian 16 Sept. 2008; BBC 21 May 2008).

Seven individuals, including four generals, remained in custody as of August 2008 as suspects in the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri, on 14 February 2005 (RFI 7 Aug. 2008; AFP 6 Aug. 2008). The four accused generals have not been charged and have been imprisoned since 2005 (RFI 7 Aug. 2008; AFP 6 Aug. 2008).

Violence between government supporters and opponents resulted in the deaths of several people in Taalabya and Saadnayel in the Bekaa valley in mid-June 2008 (Reuters 17 June 2008; VOA 17 June 2008). Lebanese troops intervened in Tripoli in late June 2008 after "sectarian" fighting between Sunni Muslims and Alawites [a Shia sect] left at least nine people dead (Los Angeles Times 24 June 2008; The Irish Times 24 June 2008). The two groups were involved in renewed fighting in late July 2008 that left eight or nine people dead (Los Angeles Times 27 July 2008; Reuters 26 July 2008). A bomb attack on a bus transporting civilians and soldiers killed at least eighteen people in Tripoli in August 2008 (CP 13 Aug. 2008; VOA 13 Aug. 2008). Saleh Aridi, a Lebanese Democratic Party politician, was killed in a car bombing on 10 September 2008 (AFP 11 Sept. 2008; UN 11 Sept. 2008) Two people died during clashes in late September 2008 between two Christian political organizations, the "anti-Syrian" Lebanese Forces group and the "pro-Syrian" Marada group, in Bsarma in northern Lebanon (BBC 17 Sept. 2008; Daily Star 18 Sept. 2008).

In early September 2008, Sunni and Alawite leaders in northern Lebanon signed a reconciliation agreement, which calls for an end to the violence between the two groups (Daily Star 9 Sept. 2008; AP 8 Sept. 2008). In mid-September 2008, fourteen political factions began meeting in reconciliation talks under the direction of the president, Michel Sleimane, as required by the Doha Accord (Guardian 16 Sept. 2008; BBC 16 Sept. 2008). A major issue that will be discussed during these meetings is the question of Hezbollah's continued possession of weapons (Guardian 16 Sept. 2008; BBC 16 Sept. 2008).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 15 October 2008. Roueida Marbadi. "Syria Opens Diplomatic Ties with Lebanon." (Factiva)
_____. 11 September 2008. Rana Moussaoui. "Murder of Lebanon Politician Threatens Reconciliation Bid." (Factiva)
_____. 6 August 2008. "Lebanon Refuses to Free Officers Held in Hariri Murder Case." (Factiva)

Associated Press (AP). 8 September 2008. Bassem Mroue. "Reconciliation Reached in Northern Lebanon." (Factiva)
_____. 28 May 2008. Hussein Dakroub. "Lebanese President Reappoints Prime Minister." (Factiva)
_____. 25 May 2008. Sam F. Ghattas. "Election of New Lebanese President Brings Relief, New Era of Increased Hezbollah Power." (Factiva)

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 17 September 2008. "Christian Rivals Clash in Lebanon." [Accessed 17 Sept. 2008]
_____. 16 September 2008. "Lebanese Factions Launch Dialogue." [Accessed 17 Sept. 2008]
_____. 12 August 2008. "Lebanon MPs Approve Unity Cabinet." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2008]
_____. 21 May 2008. "Lebanon Rivals Agree Crisis Deal." [Accessed 24 Sept. 2008]

The Canadian Press (CP) [Toronto]. 14 October 2008. Albert Aji. "Syria Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Neighbouring Lebanon. (Factiva)
_____. 13 August 2008. Bassem Mroue. "Explosion Kills 18 People, Including 10 Off-Duty Soldiers, in Lebanon." (Factiva)

Cable News Network (CNN). 11 July 2008. "Lebanon Announces Unity Government." [Accessed 18 Sept. 2008]

Daily Star [Beirut]. 18 September 2008. Hussein Abdallah. "Two Die in Clashes Between Marada, Lebanese Forces; Franjieh Accuses LF of 'Assassination'." (Factiva)
_____. 9 September 2008. Hussein Abdallah. "Sunni, Alawite Leaders Sign Truce Deal in Tripoli." [Accessed 24 Sept. 2008]

The Economist. 24 May 2008. "Peace for a While – Lebanon." (Factiva)

France 24. 12 August 2008. "Lebanese Cabinet Wins Confidence Vote."

Guardian [London]. 15 October 2008. Ian Black. "International: Syria to Open Embassy in Beirut after Historic Decree: Diplomatic Ties to be Established for First Time: Move Aims to End Damascus Isolation." (Factiva)
_____. 16 September 2008. Mark Tran. "Lebanon's Rival Factions Hold Reconciliation Talks." [Accessed 24 Sept. 2008]

The Irish Times [Dublin]. 24 June 2008. "Lebanon Clashes Subside as Troops Enter Tripoli." (Factiva)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. May 2008. Vol. 54, No. 5. "Lebanon."

Los Angeles Times. 27 July 2008. Raed Rafei. "Lebanon Army Intervenes in Clashes; Outbreak of Sectarian Fighting in Tripoli Leaves Nine Dead." (Factiva)
_____. 24 June 2008. Raed Rafei. "Troops Move in to Quell Fighting in Northern Lebanon." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2008]

Middle East Economic Digest. 29 August 2008. Adal Rafiq Mirza. "Beirut Edges Towards Stability." (Factiva)

Radio France internationale (RFI). 7 August 2008. Paul Khalifeh. "Affaire Hariri: la justice rejette la demande de libération des généraux." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2008]
_____. 26 May 2008. "Michel Sleimane, président de 'la réconciliation'." [Accessed 22 Sept. 2008]

Reuters. 26 July 2008. "Lebanese Factions Clash in North for Second Day, as Death Toll Rises to Eight." (Haaretz) [Accessed 24 Sept. 2008]
_____. 11 July 2008. Laila Bassam. "Lebanon Forms Government with Hezbollah." (International Herald Tribune). [Accessed 19 Sept. 2008]
_____. 17 June 2008. "Two Killed in Clashes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley." [Accessed 24 Sept. 2008]

United Nations (UN). 11 September 2008. Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "UN Deplores Latest Deadly Car Bombing in Lebanon." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2008]

USA Today. 21 May 2008. Hussein Dakroub. "Lebanon's Feuding Factions Reach Agreement." [Accessed 24 Sept. 2008]

Voice of America (VOA). 13 August 2008. "Explosion Targets Bus in Lebanese City of Tripoli." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2008]
_____. 8 August 2008. Aida F. Akl. "Lebanon Enters a New Phase." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2008]
_____. 17 June 2008. Edward Yeranian. "Fresh Sectarian Clashes Erupt in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley." [Accessed 24 Sept. 2008]

The Washington Post. 12 July 2008. Alia Ibrahim. "Lebanese Form National Unity Government; Hezbollah Gains Effective Veto Power; U.S.-Backed Premier Stays." (Factiva)

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sources, including: Alert Net, Amnesty International (AI), European Country of Origin Information (ECOI) Network, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Freedom House, International Crisis Group, Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), United Kingdom (UK) Home Office.