LCCC NEWS BULLETIN
MAY 26/2006

Below news bulletins from the Daily Star for 26/05/06
Lebanon marks Liberation Day, but sovereignty is still a work
Berri marks Lebanon's Liberation Day by singing praises of Syria
Olmert's unlilateral agenda belies his claim to want a partner for peace
Arab nations that criticize US torture must confront their own complicity

Below news bulletins from miscellaneous sources for 26/05/06
Lahoud: Hizbullah Should Stay Armed Until Middle East Peace is Achieved-Naharnet
Lahoud: Hizbullah should keep its weapons-Jerusalem Post
Hezbollah should keep weapons until W Asia conflict ends-Zee News
Saddam's nephew gets arrested in Lebanon-Kuwait Times
Syria launches crackdown on dissent-Christian Science Monitor
US slams Syria for jailing rights lawyer, dissidents-JURIST - USA
Lebanon marks anniversary of Israel's withdrawal amid deep split-Asharq Alawsat
Iranians Pledge to Become Suicide Bombers-Washington Post
Hezbollah may activate sleeper cells-Washington Times

Iranians Pledge to Become Suicide Bombers
By BRIAN MURPHY-The Associated Press
Thursday, May 25, 2006; TEHRAN, Iran -- Under a banner showing coffins draped with American, British and Israeli flags, more than 100 Iranian men and women pledged Thursday to become suicide bombers _ if necessary _ to defend their country and Islam.The event, held in a burial area for war dead and martyrs, was similar to others in recent years, with Islamic chants and songs and volunteers donning white coverings to symbolize their willingness to die. An Iranian woman covers her face as she attends a suicide bomber gathering in southern Tehran Thursday, May 25, 2006. Under a banner showing coffins draped with U.S., Israeli and British flags, more than 150 Iranian men and women pledged to become suicide bombers to defend their country and Islam.
But this gathering _ coming at a time when many Iranians worry their country could come under attack by the United States or Israel _ was tailored to send a message of defiance against any possible military action over Iran's nuclear program.
"The threats from America have swelled our ranks and given us added conviction," said 27-year-old Margess, who like the other volunteers would only give her first name and used a scarf to cover all but her eyes. "We will stand up against them with our lives."No weapons or explosives were displayed, but the ceremony was organized by a shadowy group believed to have links to the Basiji paramilitary group that is backed by Iran's Islamic regime.
A huge banner used as a backdrop showed flag-covered coffins. And a message _ in English _ promised to "damage the U.S. worldwide" in retaliation for any attack on Iran. Six nations _ the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany _ are seeking a possible incentive package for Iran to entice it to give up uranium enrichment. The package could include dropping the threat of military action but still bring sanctions. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful energy purposes, but Washington and allies believe Iran also seeks to develop atomic weapons.
It's unclear how the potential suicide bombers are recruited or trained, although several claimed to be Basiji members. Officials claiming to represent the group refused to give details, and the event appeared largely staged for the media.
Some of the women volunteers held their children on their laps. "If asked by Iran's leaders, we will fight anywhere," said Hussein, 56, a volunteer with a wife and four children. "The world should know that Iranians embrace martyrdom."
One of the organizers _ from a group calling itself the Headquarters for Commemorating Martyrs of the Global Islamic Movement _ shouted out names and handed out silver dog tags. Volunteers mingled around monuments to attackers, including a Palestinian suicide bomber, an Iranian militiaman killed by the U.S. forces in Iraq and two commandos who helped carry out the 1983 blast at Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. servicemen. An almost simultaneous bombing killed 56 French peacekeepers. "Hezbollah, Hezbollah," the crowd chanted as a singing group supported by the Lebanese guerrilla group began songs calling for Islamic resistance. Iran is one of the key backers of the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah.
The volunteer bombers waved Qurans, the Muslim holy book, and one held up a placard paraphrasing Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution: "Our nation is the first to prove that America can't do anything."
"We are here to prove that Muslims _ that Iranians _ have solidarity and we will willingly shed our blood," said Azadeh, a 20-year-old volunteer who wore a postcard of Khomeini and his successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pinned to her white cloak.
On each postcard a message was stenciled: "Those who are ready to die.""I only have one son and he's volunteered as a martyr," said Marium Nematzadeh, 56. "I have deep belief in my religion and my leaders. I would even become a bomber if asked."

Hezbollah may activate sleeper cells
May. 22, 2006 at 10:25AM
As concerns rise over Iran's nuclear program, U.S. security agents reportedly fear the Hezbollah terror group may be planning to attack U.S. cities. The New York Post, quoting sources, said the Lebanon-based fundamentalist Islamic group may be planning to activate sleeper cells in New York or other big cities. The investigation is being carried out by the FBI and the Justice Department. Quoting law-enforcement and intelligence officials, the newspaper said about a dozen hard-core supporters of Hezbollah have been identified in recent weeks as operating in the New York area. The Iranian Mission to the United Nations also is being watched. But U.S. officials also told the newspaper there is no intelligence information pointing to an imminent attack by Hezbollah. The stepped up security activity comes after reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had met with leaders of Hezbollah and other terror groups during a visit to Syria, the report said.

Lahoud: Hizbullah Should Stay Armed Until Middle East Peace is Achieved
President Emile Lahoud has praised Hizbullah saying the group should keep its weapons until the Arab-Israeli conflict ends.
"The resistance should stay until a just and comprehensive peace is achieved in the region," Lahoud said during a visit to southern Lebanon on the sixth anniversary of the Israeli withdrawal.
Hizbullah spearheaded a guerrilla campaign that helped end Israel's 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon on May 25, 2000. The group planned to hold celebrations marking the anniversary on Thursday.
Hizbullah's weapons have become a contentious issue recently, after several Lebanese officials called for the group to dismantle its stockpiles now that Israel is gone from the area. Lebanese lawmakers planned to take up the issue again at their next national dialogue meeting June 8. At a cabinet meeting Wednesday, the government praised all Lebanese who have helped achieve the country's liberation. "The cabinet praises all those who struggled and resisted over the past decades since the beginning of Israeli aggressions against Lebanon," a statement that followed the meeting said.
"It is due to their steadfastness and sacrifices that liberation was achieved and also due to the Lebanese army's support to the resistance."
The government has come under U.N. and American pressure to disarm Hizbullah, in accordance with a 2004 U.N. Security Council resolution that calls on Lebanese and Palestinian factions to lay down their weapons.
Hizbullah has refused, saying it needs its arms to defend Lebanon in case of an Israeli attack. The group argues that the Lebanese army is incapable of facing the much superior Israeli army which can only be weakened by guerrilla warfare.
"Those who call for disarming the resistance are conspiring against Lebanon," Lahoud said, as dozens of villagers greeted him by throwing rice and flowers. Lahoud is a staunch ally of Syria and Hizbullah. Many anti-Syrian lawmakers in Lebanon have called for his resignation, though they do not have enough votes in parliament to oust him.
Lahoud visited a former Israeli jail in the town of Khiam Wednesday, and received as a gift a damaged Israeli rifle captured by Hizbullah. The group's south Lebanon commander, sheik Nabil Qaouq, spoke there about what he called Lahoud's "courageous stances." "They are a source of strength to the nation and the resistance and a source of frustration to the Israeli enemy and its American partner," Qaouq said.Beirut, 25 May 06, 10:29

Lahoud: Hizbullah should keep its weapons
By ASSOCIATED PRESS-BEIRUT, LebanonLebanon's president praised Hizbullah Wednesday, saying the terror group should keep its weapons until the Arab-Israeli conflict ends. "The resistance should stay until a just and comprehensive peace is achieved in the region," President Emile Lahoud said during a visit to southern Lebanon on the sixth anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from a security zone there. Hizbullah spearheaded a guerrilla campaign that helped end Israel's 18-year occupation in southern Lebanon on May 25, 2000. The group planned to hold celebrations marking the anniversary on Thursday.
'Hezbollah should keep weapons until W Asia conflict ends' Beirut (Lebanon), May 25: Lebanon's President has praised Hezbollah, saying the militant group should keep its weapons until the Arab-Israeli conflict ends.
"The resistance should stay until a just and comprehensive peace is achieved in the region," President Emile Lahoud said yesterday during a visit to southern Lebanon on the sixth anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from a security zone there.
Hezbollah spearheaded a guerrilla campaign that helped end Israel's 18-year occupation in southern Lebanon on May 25, 2000. The group planned to hold celebrations marking the anniversary on Thursday.
"Those who call for disarming the resistance are conspiring against Lebanon," Lahoud said, as dozens of villagers greeted the him by throwing Rice and flowers, an Arab welcoming gesture. Lahoud is a strong ally of Syria and Hezbollah, and many anti-Syrian lawmakers in Lebanon have called for his resignation, though they do not have enough votes in parliament to oust him.
Lahoud visited a former Israeli jail in the town of Khiam yesterday, and received as a gift a damaged Israeli rifle captured by Hezbollah. The group's south Lebanon commander, Sheik Nabil Kaouk, spoke there about what he called Lahoud's "courageous stances." "They are a source of strength to the nation and the resistance and a source of frustration to the Israeli enemy and its American partner," Kaouk said. Bureau Report

Lebanon marks Liberation Day, but sovereignty is still a work in progress
Friday, May 26, 2006-Editorial-Daily Star
Lebanon's celebrations of Liberation Day have always been bittersweet. On Thursday, as in years before, the Lebanese celebrated the liberation of South Lebanon from Israeli occupation six years ago with the knowledge that there is still a long way to go toward fully recovering their sovereignty and independence. Lebanon's march toward sovereignty and independence is hampered by the fact that both of its neighbors fail to respect the right of the Lebanese people to govern their own territory and to live in a free and independent state without the fear of incursions or intimidation. Syria has rejected a UN Security Council resolution that "strongly encourages" Damascus to establish diplomatic relations with Beirut and demarcate the two countries' shared border. Instead of exchanging embassies, Damascus is practicing foreign policy by subpoena, issuing an arrest warrant against Lebanese MP Walid Jumblatt. Meanwhile, Lebanon's other neighbor, Israel, maintains its illegal occupation of the Shebaa Farms and continues to conduct near-daily incursions into Lebanese territory.
Fortunately, the Lebanese are currently united in their effort to ward off external threats to their sovereignty. All ministers in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday unanimously rejected the Syrian arrest warrant against Jumblatt. And all parties have vowed to push for the liberation of Shebaa.
The Lebanese have won support from the international community, particularly the United States and France, in their efforts to defend their sovereignty from Syrian attempts to undermine it. But they have not had much help in restraining Israeli aggression, which is a far greater threat to Lebanese unity and a more direct violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.
The most valuable assistance the US could give to the Lebanese people would be to convince their Israeli allies that it is in their interests to leave the Shebaa Farms, return Lebanese detainees and halt their incursions into Lebanese territory. Attacks on Lebanese sovereignty threaten to undermine the consensus that has been built through the national dialogue in Beirut. By creating a diplomatic wall to shelter the Lebanese from Israeli aggression, the US would help the Lebanese people remain united in their march toward sovereignty and independence.

Brammertz briefs Lebanese officials on probe
Friday, May 26, 2006-Editorial-Daily Star
Serge Brammertz, head of the UN commission investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, met with Justice Minister Charles Rizk, Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza, Magistrate Elias Eid and other judicial officials on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the probe. One of the main issues was the latest request by Brammertz for the bomb crater to be re-examined.

March 14 members pay tribute to fallen soldiers
Friday, May 26, 2006-Editorial-Daily Star
A delegation from the March 14 Forces placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Mathaf, Beirut, on Wednesday in honor of all of the country's fallen soldiers. Earlier in the day, the delegation also visited the army commander, General Michel Suleiman, to pay their condolences on the recent death of Corporal Mustafa Medlej, who was wounded in clashes last week between the Lebanese Army and members of the Palestinian group Fatah al-Intifada. The delegation stated its "support and solidarity with the Lebanese Army." The delegation included MP Walid Eido, Wael Abu Faour, Antoine Saad, Qassem Aziz, Antonie Ghanem, Antoine Zahra, former MP Camile Ziadeh, Michel Mouawad, Elias Abu Assi and Claude Kenaan.

AUB inks cooperation deal with UAE body
Friday, May 26, 2006-Editorial-Daily Star
The American University of Beirut's Suliman S. Olayan School of Business signed an agreement on Wednesday with the Abu-Dhabi-based Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training, by virtue of which AUB will offer a corporate executive MBA program to UAE institutions. The Center of Excellence for Applied research offers educational and training programs to citizens and residents of the United Arab Emirates and operates under the authority of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education, AUB explained in a statement. The agreement was signed by the Olayan School of Business' dean, George Najjar, and Tayyeb Kamali, the vice president of the Center of Excellence. "This agreement is the first of its kind and brings AUB programs to the outside world. We hope this will mark the beginning of a promising future that will consolidate AUB as a regional educational powerhouse," the statement quoted Najjar as saying during the signing ceremony.

US slams Syria for jailing rights lawyer, dissidents
Joshua Pantesco -[JURIST] US Secretary of State spokesperson Sean McCormack on Tuesday blasted Syria for arresting human rights leaders [JURIST report] and called for Syria to release all political prisoners [press briefing transcript]. Syrian security police last week arrested human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni [AI backgrounder], prominent writer Michel Kilo [BBC report] and Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt [BBC profile] in what McCormack characterized as a crackdown on "Syrians who seek to defend their rights and to bring democratic change to their country."
All those arrested allegedly signed a petition advocating improved relations with neighboring Lebanon, which coincides with a unanimous UN Security Council resolution [text; UN News report] to "strongly encourage" Syria to end the flow of weapons over the border to Lebanese militias, and to respond to a request by Lebanon to delineate their common border and establish full diplomatic relations. The Syrian government has condemned [SANA report] both the petition and the resolution as a violation of international law. VOA has more.

Syria launches crackdown on dissent
The biggest wave of arrests since 2001 hits advocates of better ties with Lebanon.
By Rhonda Roumani | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
DAMASCUS, SYRIA – As if thumbing its nose at international pressure for democratic reform, Syria has jailed writers, activists, and intellectuals over the past week in a sweeping crackdown on internal dissent.
While those here who speaks out against the government puts themselves at risk, activists say more people have been arrested in this latest wave than at any time since 2001. This crackdown, they say, is aimed mostly at signatories of a declaration demanding that Syria improve relations with Lebanon.
BUSTED: Syrian lawyer Anwar al-Bunni was charged with inciting sectarian strife.
KHALED AL-HARIRI/REUTERS
In the Monitor-Thursday, 05/25/06
"There is a preventive war being launched by the government and the ostensible reason is that people talked about an issue that is considered taboo: Syrian-Lebanese relations," says Yassin Haj-Saleh, an opposition figure who also signed the declaration, but has not yet been arrested. "But in reality, the activists have been talking about this for the past two years," he says. "Now the government wants to forbid any kind of dissent or opposition so when the results of the international investigation [into last year's assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister] come out, the regime will have complete control of the country."
A UN investigation into the killing of Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri has implicated top Syrian security officials, and Syria is now nervously awaiting a new report, due in mid-June.
The Beirut-Damascus declaration
Signed by nearly 300 Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals, the Beirut- Damascus declaration, released nearly two weeks ago, demanded that Syria improve its relations with Lebanon, first by setting up embassies in each country and by clearly demarcating the border between the two nations.
Michel Kilo, one of the country's most prominent writers and activist, and Anwar al-Bunni, a leading human rights lawyer, were among 13 activists arrested (three were later released) and charged before civilian courts last week with inciting sectarian strife and disrespecting the state after they signed the document.
Marwan Kabalan, a professor of political science at Damascus University, says the crackdown was spurred by the fact that the declaration coincided with the passing of UN Security Council resolution 1680, which was co-sponsored by the US, France, and Britain, and which posed similar demands as the declaration. The state-run newspaper Tishrin called the timing of the declaration with the UN resolution "suspicious."
"The regime feels that Lebanon is being used by France and the US to undermine the regime," says Prof. Kabalan. "[The activists] were trying to ally themselves with the external pressure versus the regime and that is something the regime will not accept."
The arrests are seen as the worst crackdown since 2001, when the arrest of 10 prominent activists, including two parliament members, brought an end to a democracy movement called the Damascus Spring that emerged when Bashar al-Assad took power in 2000.
Now, Mr. Kilo and others could face life in prison. Haitham al-Maleh, a human rights lawyer, says that Mr. Bunni was also being charged with accepting money from foreign entities.
In March, Bunni opened up a human rights center, which was largely funded by the European Union. But it was closed down just weeks after opening.
Earlier this month, Fateh Jamous, a communist opposition leader, was also arrested on his return from Europe.
THE BOMBING: The current political crackdown in Damascus may have its roots in the investigation into the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
HUSSEIN MALLA/AP
Syrian-Lebanese relations deteriorated sharply after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri last year, and after Syria withdrew its forces from neighboring Lebanon in April 2005 in the face of intense international pressure.
A UN-led investigation into the Hariri assassination last year initially implicated high-level Syrian officials as suspects in the assassination and brought intense pressure on the country.
But over the past few months, analysts say that Syrian cooperation with the investigation has helped ease the pressure on the country and strengthen the regime. Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with leading UN prosecutor Serge Brammertz in Damascus.
And with international pressure now focused on Iran and on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, some believe the arrests are a sign that the Syrian government has weathered the storm.
"The government is more comfortable than in the past," says Kabalan. "They feel strong compared to six or seven months ago. They have survived the crisis before and they feel they can take the pressure. And now they feel the West is preoccupied with Iran and that they feel less concerned with Syria and the Syrian people. They have seen that the US and Europe can't do much about arrests."
Foreign pressure on Syria mounts
On Tuesday, the US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack demanded that Syria comply with the UN resolution 1680 and that it release all political prisoners.
The EU last Friday also urged the Syrian government to release all prisoners.
A statement by the Syrian foreign ministry criticized the EU for interfering in internal Syrian affairs.
The most recent arrests will not quiet the country's weak and fragmented opposition completely, according to Mr. Haj-Saleh.
"The margin of freedom of speech here has decreased but it is not going to go away completely," he says. "For that to happen, they need to arrest more than 10 people."

Saddam's nephew gets arrested in Lebanon
BEIRUT/BAGHDAD: Lebanese security forces have arrested a nephew of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein suspected of masterminding attacks against US forces in Iraq, security sources said yesterday. They said Bashar Sabawi Ibrahim Al-Hassan was detained as he tried to board a flight to Brazil at Beirut airport on Tuesday after officers suspected that his passport was tampered with to modify the name. He had entered Lebanon by land from Syria after leaving Iraq.
The sources said there was an international warrant for Bashar's arrest on terrorism charges, which include leading a group to fight US forces in Iraq. He is thought to be the son of Saddam's half-brother Sabawi Ibrahim Al-Hassan who is in custody in Iraq.
Meanwhile, in new violence highlighting the challenge the tough-talking new Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki faces, gunmen shot dead a police general in Baghdad and tribal clashes south of the capital killed 16, police said. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the second Western leader to visit Baghdad this week after Britain's Tony Blair, said Iraqi security forces were making progress and that foreign troops would leave as soon as they could take over. US forces, seeking to quell an insurgency of mainly Saddam loyalists and Al Qaeda militants that erupted after his overthrow, said yesterday they killed seven militants in two separate operations the previous day. The United States and Britain are keen for progress on the ground so that they can start withdrawing their combined 140,000 troops, suffering daily roadside bomb and other attacks.
They hope that participation of the Sunni minority, which dominated Iraq under Saddam, in Maliki's government will help defuse the insurgency.
A senior British official this week said all foreign combat troops may be gone from Iraq in four years' time. Maliki has said his forces could take charge of security in most of Iraq by the end of this year, except for Baghdad and insurgent strongholds in its west. Security analysts have voiced doubts about the ability of Iraq's fledgling security forces to take over.
But Rasmussen cited improvements in their capabilities in the south, patrolled by British and Danish troops, and said Copenhagen had decided on a small cut in its 500-strong force. "I think we share the same goal that the Iraqi people should become masters in their own house," he told reporters. However, in yet another reminder of the difficult security situation in Iraq, gunmen shot dead police General Ahmed Dawod, a deputy chief of Baghdad municipality's protection units, on his way to work in Baghdad yesterday, police said. It came a day after three separate bomb attacks killed at least 21 people in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday. -Reuters