quote:

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BEIRUT, May 10 (Reuters) - The Lebanese army overturned on Saturday two government measures against Hezbollah that had triggered the group to take control of Beirut, and the military urged gunmen to withdraw from the streets.

The army said in a statement it was keeping the head of the security at Beirut airport in his post and that it would handle Hezbollah's communications network in a way "that would not harm public interest and the security of the resistance".

Lebanon's U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said earlier on Saturday that he was putting the two issues, which have sparked the worst fighting in Lebanon since the 1975-90 civil war, into the hands of the Lebanese army.

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But it would appear that the deck is going to get re-shuffled something like this.

The government's attempt to draw a line in the sand on the Hezzbolah state within a state has failed.

The government has been stalemated too long anyway. And the resolution to the present crisis has been effected by the army and it's commander, Gen. Michel Suleiman... as the only instituion and person everyone will bow to.

The General was already a possibility for filling te long vacant Presidency.

So now he will be President, Hezzbolah will have a 90% free hand to consolidate the state within the state... a sort of Lebanese version of de facto power sharing. And everyone will step back.

For now.

[ 11 May 2008: Message edited by: N.Beltov ]