BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Lebanon's political leaders have been urged to get together to discuss the formation of a national unity government to prevent a looming political crisis.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, head of the Shiite Amal Movement, Wednesday called on the various Muslim, Christian and political leaders to once again gather at the round table to discuss a possible new administration and a new elections law.
"I propose a period of 15 days to hold the discussions," Berri said at a press conference, cautioning against any attempt to take to the street to force the resignation of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government.
Pro-Syrian parties, especially Hezbollah, in addition to the Free Patriotic Movement of former army commander and Christian leader Michel Aoun, have been pressing for a government change.
The anti-Syria camp, which commands a majority in parliament, has rejected the move, suspecting a Syrian role behind it.
Berri sharply criticized the possibility of forcing the government's collapse through street demonstrations.
"Such escalation and increase of tensions will only lead to clashes in the streets and further internal divisions in the country, not necessarily sectarian," he said, cautioning that Lebanon is being used as a scene for regional and international conflicts.
Berri has been expected to take the initiative to ease political tensions in the country, which have exacerbated since the end of the Israeli war on Lebanon Aug. 14, after a visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this month during which he held talks with King Abdullah.
Anti-Syrian parties have blamed Hezbollah for sparking the war against Israel at the behest of its regional allies, Syria and Iran, without consulting the other Lebanese parties with which it was conducting a national dialogue prior to the outbreak of the war.
