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Mr Chavez ended the speech with the revolutionary slogan: “Forever onward toward victory!”
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Venezuela’s army has dismissed concerns about political instability in the country after President Hugo Chavez’s admission that he had cancer surgery.
“The country is calm,” the army chief, Gen Henry Rangel Silva, said.
He said Mr Chavez, who remains in Cuba after the operation, was “getting better” and was still in charge.
Speculation about Mr Chavez’s health had been rife since he left Venezuela three weeks ago for what officials said was an operation on a pelvic abscess.
But in a speech on Thursday, the president – who has been in power for 12 years – revealed he had also had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour.
He added that he was determined to overcome his health battle and was now on the road to “full recovery”.
It is not clear how serious Mr Chavez’s condition is, but the opposition has questioned whether he is still able to run Venezuela from abroad.
“We have seen our comandante thinner than usual but still standing,” Gen Gangel Silva said on Friday.
Analysis
This was a Hugo Chavez clearly weakened by ill health. His desire to speak to the nation was undimmed, but his voice was much weaker than usual and he had visibly lost weight.
The Cuban and Venezuelan authorities have done well to keep this news under wraps for so long. But questions must be asked about whether concealing such information was the right thing to do.
President Chavez addressed the issue by saying he did not want to bring his supporters on what might be an unhappy journey with him.
Venezuelans are still wondering if the president will return to the country in time for bicentennial celebrations scheduled for Tuesday. But in the longer term, his ill health calls into question his chances of being re-elected for another six-year term in 2012.
His time spent recuperating out of the public eye has highlighted how much government is centred on him and how he lacks an obvious successor.
“The truth is he is getting better, he’s fine,” stressing that there was no threat to Venezuela’s constitutional order.
The army chief added that Mr Chavez’s recovery was “satisfactory” and he would be home “soon”.
Looking much thinner than when he last addressed the nation, Mr Chavez on Thursday confirmed what many had suspected – his health problems were more serious than first thought, says the BBC’s Sarah Grainger in Caracas.
Standing behind a podium, the president said he had made the “fundamental error” of failing to look after himself.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro had first told him he had looked unwell while he was on a state visit to Havana, he added.
Mr Chavez said he underwent a first operation on a pelvic abscess on 10 June, just as officials had informed the Venezuelan public.
But during his recuperation, tests had “confirmed the existence of a tumour with cancerous cells”, forcing him to undergo another operation. The extraction of the tumour had been “completely successful”, he said.
He added that his condition had been “evolving satisfactorily” while he received a “complementary treatment to combat the different types of cells found, and thereby continue on the path to my full recovery”.
Mr Chavez called it a “new battle that life has placed before us”, and ended the speech with the revolutionary slogan often used by Mr Castro: “Forever onward toward victory! We will be victorious! Until my return!”
The address was aired by the pan-American channel Telesur late on Thursday. It is unclear when it was recorded. Screen captions indicated that he was speaking from Cuba.
Mr Chavez did not say how much longer he expected to remain in Cuba recovering, but our correspondent says everyone hopes he will be back in Venezuela on Tuesday, when it celebrates 200 years of independence.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mr Chavez ended the speech with the revolutionary slogan: “Forever onward toward victory!”
Related Stories
Venezuela’s army has dismissed concerns about political instability in the country after President Hugo Chavez’s admission that he had cancer surgery.
“The country is calm,” the army chief, Gen Henry Rangel Silva, said.
He said Mr Chavez, who remains in Cuba after the operation, was “getting better” and was still in charge.
Speculation about Mr Chavez’s health had been rife since he left Venezuela three weeks ago for what officials said was an operation on a pelvic abscess.
But in a speech on Thursday, the president – who has been in power for 12 years – revealed he had also had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour.
He added that he was determined to overcome his health battle and was now on the road to “full recovery”.
It is not clear how serious Mr Chavez’s condition is, but the opposition has questioned whether he is still able to run Venezuela from abroad.
“We have seen our comandante thinner than usual but still standing,” Gen Gangel Silva said on Friday.
Analysis
This was a Hugo Chavez clearly weakened by ill health. His desire to speak to the nation was undimmed, but his voice was much weaker than usual and he had visibly lost weight.
The Cuban and Venezuelan authorities have done well to keep this news under wraps for so long. But questions must be asked about whether concealing such information was the right thing to do.
President Chavez addressed the issue by saying he did not want to bring his supporters on what might be an unhappy journey with him.
Venezuelans are still wondering if the president will return to the country in time for bicentennial celebrations scheduled for Tuesday. But in the longer term, his ill health calls into question his chances of being re-elected for another six-year term in 2012.
His time spent recuperating out of the public eye has highlighted how much government is centred on him and how he lacks an obvious successor.
“The truth is he is getting better, he’s fine,” stressing that there was no threat to Venezuela’s constitutional order.
The army chief added that Mr Chavez’s recovery was “satisfactory” and he would be home “soon”.
Looking much thinner than when he last addressed the nation, Mr Chavez on Thursday confirmed what many had suspected – his health problems were more serious than first thought, says the BBC’s Sarah Grainger in Caracas.
Standing behind a podium, the president said he had made the “fundamental error” of failing to look after himself.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro had first told him he had looked unwell while he was on a state visit to Havana, he added.
Mr Chavez said he underwent a first operation on a pelvic abscess on 10 June, just as officials had informed the Venezuelan public.
But during his recuperation, tests had “confirmed the existence of a tumour with cancerous cells”, forcing him to undergo another operation. The extraction of the tumour had been “completely successful”, he said.
He added that his condition had been “evolving satisfactorily” while he received a “complementary treatment to combat the different types of cells found, and thereby continue on the path to my full recovery”.
Mr Chavez called it a “new battle that life has placed before us”, and ended the speech with the revolutionary slogan often used by Mr Castro: “Forever onward toward victory! We will be victorious! Until my return!”
The address was aired by the pan-American channel Telesur late on Thursday. It is unclear when it was recorded. Screen captions indicated that he was speaking from Cuba.
Mr Chavez did not say how much longer he expected to remain in Cuba recovering, but our correspondent says everyone hopes he will be back in Venezuela on Tuesday, when it celebrates 200 years of independence.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mr Chavez ended the speech with the revolutionary slogan: “Forever onward toward victory!”
Related Stories
Venezuela’s army has dismissed concerns about political instability in the country after President Hugo Chavez’s admission that he had cancer surgery.
“The country is calm,” the army chief, Gen Henry Rangel Silva, said.
He said Mr Chavez, who remains in Cuba after the operation, was “getting better” and was still in charge.
Speculation about Mr Chavez’s health had been rife since he left Venezuela three weeks ago for what officials said was an operation on a pelvic abscess.
But in a speech on Thursday, the president – who has been in power for 12 years – revealed he had also had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour.
He added that he was determined to overcome his health battle and was now on the road to “full recovery”.
It is not clear how serious Mr Chavez’s condition is, but the opposition has questioned whether he is still able to run Venezuela from abroad.
“We have seen our comandante thinner than usual but still standing,” Gen Gangel Silva said on Friday.
Analysis
This was a Hugo Chavez clearly weakened by ill health. His desire to speak to the nation was undimmed, but his voice was much weaker than usual and he had visibly lost weight.
The Cuban and Venezuelan authorities have done well to keep this news under wraps for so long. But questions must be asked about whether concealing such information was the right thing to do.
President Chavez addressed the issue by saying he did not want to bring his supporters on what might be an unhappy journey with him.
Venezuelans are still wondering if the president will return to the country in time for bicentennial celebrations scheduled for Tuesday. But in the longer term, his ill health calls into question his chances of being re-elected for another six-year term in 2012.
His time spent recuperating out of the public eye has highlighted how much government is centred on him and how he lacks an obvious successor.
“The truth is he is getting better, he’s fine,” stressing that there was no threat to Venezuela’s constitutional order.
The army chief added that Mr Chavez’s recovery was “satisfactory” and he would be home “soon”.
Looking much thinner than when he last addressed the nation, Mr Chavez on Thursday confirmed what many had suspected – his health problems were more serious than first thought, says the BBC’s Sarah Grainger in Caracas.
Standing behind a podium, the president said he had made the “fundamental error” of failing to look after himself.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro had first told him he had looked unwell while he was on a state visit to Havana, he added.
Mr Chavez said he underwent a first operation on a pelvic abscess on 10 June, just as officials had informed the Venezuelan public.
But during his recuperation, tests had “confirmed the existence of a tumour with cancerous cells”, forcing him to undergo another operation. The extraction of the tumour had been “completely successful”, he said.
He added that his condition had been “evolving satisfactorily” while he received a “complementary treatment to combat the different types of cells found, and thereby continue on the path to my full recovery”.
Mr Chavez called it a “new battle that life has placed before us”, and ended the speech with the revolutionary slogan often used by Mr Castro: “Forever onward toward victory! We will be victorious! Until my return!”
The address was aired by the pan-American channel Telesur late on Thursday. It is unclear when it was recorded. Screen captions indicated that he was speaking from Cuba.
Mr Chavez did not say how much longer he expected to remain in Cuba recovering, but our correspondent says everyone hopes he will be back in Venezuela on Tuesday, when it celebrates 200 years of independence.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Richard Taylor looks at the businesses offering to put films in your home on the same day as cinematic release.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Richard Taylor looks at the businesses offering to put films in your home on the same day as cinematic release.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Richard Taylor looks at the businesses offering to put films in your home on the same day as cinematic release.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
There will be more competition for students in the changing system
Two English universities are actively considering becoming private institutions, research suggests.
This would mean they would no longer get direct funding for research or teaching from the government.
The government has said it wants to open up the system to private providers of higher education.
The two universities, which have not been named, took part in a survey of vice chancellors by management consultants PA Consulting Group.
The authors of the survey say the institutions are not part of the Russell Group, which represents some of the UK’s leading universities.
They contacted the vice chancellors of 165 universities and received responses from 65.
The authors say a “substantial minority” of institutions (just over 20 of those which responded) want to minimise their dependence on government-controlled activities.
Co-author Mike Boxall said there were probably more than two institutions which were actively looking at whether to go private.
“It’s probably on the top of the agenda for a number of universities,” he said.
“It’s in the public domain that the LSE has actively considered it. There are probably more than [the two universities] for whom it will be an active thing.
“It’s more about universities looking at widening their base and thinking about where to build their business.
“The publicly-regulated area is not offering a lot of growth for universities.”
The Universities Minister David Willetts has talked of wanting to “open up the system” and the higher education White Paper, published earlier this week, sets out ways the government aims to do that.
Private institutions are being encouraged to compete with publicly-funded institutions to offer places.
In total, a quarter of all undergraduate university places will be up for grabs – unlike the present system where individual institutions are given funding for a set allocation of places.
New legislation will allow students to borrow the maximum annual undergraduate tuition fee of £9,000 as long as the institution (publicly-funded or private) agrees to abide by regulations on fair access, quality and student complaints.
Changes to university funding mean teaching grants are being largely cut. Funding is expected to come more directly from students and their increased tuition fees.
Critics say this will mean departments – and even universities – closing, and ministers have said that they accept some institutions might fail.
Two universities which took part in the survey said they feared they might not exist in ten years’ time.
The researchers at the PA Consulting Group said some universities were “still distinctly nervous”, with 11 out of the 65 which took part in the survey saying they were concerned about shortages of investment funds and staff.
And about 20 of the universities said they expected the increase in tuition fees to lead to a “significant reduction in student demand”.
Overall, Mr Boxall said that after a period of anger and upheaval over the changes in higher education, many universities were now “feeling quite bullish”.
“After a lot of change in the cost structure, a number are feeling that they have come out the other side. A lot of institutions have a lot of cash and a big chunk of the sector is in good shape.”
He said institutions were looking at various growth strategies, particularly further expansion into the international market.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
There will be more competition for students in the changing system
Two English universities are actively considering becoming private institutions, research suggests.
This would mean they would no longer get direct funding for research or teaching from the government.
The government has said it wants to open up the system to private providers of higher education.
The two universities, which have not been named, took part in a survey of vice chancellors by management consultants PA Consulting Group.
The authors of the survey say the institutions are not part of the Russell Group, which represents some of the UK’s leading universities.
They contacted the vice chancellors of 165 universities and received responses from 65.
The authors say a “substantial minority” of institutions (just over 20 of those which responded) want to minimise their dependence on government-controlled activities.
Co-author Mike Boxall said there were probably more than two institutions which were actively looking at whether to go private.
“It’s probably on the top of the agenda for a number of universities,” he said.
“It’s in the public domain that the LSE has actively considered it. There are probably more than [the two universities] for whom it will be an active thing.
“It’s more about universities looking at widening their base and thinking about where to build their business.
“The publicly-regulated area is not offering a lot of growth for universities.”
The Universities Minister David Willetts has talked of wanting to “open up the system” and the higher education White Paper, published earlier this week, sets out ways the government aims to do that.
Private institutions are being encouraged to compete with publicly-funded institutions to offer places.
In total, a quarter of all undergraduate university places will be up for grabs – unlike the present system where individual institutions are given funding for a set allocation of places.
New legislation will allow students to borrow the maximum annual undergraduate tuition fee of £9,000 as long as the institution (publicly-funded or private) agrees to abide by regulations on fair access, quality and student complaints.
Changes to university funding mean teaching grants are being largely cut. Funding is expected to come more directly from students and their increased tuition fees.
Critics say this will mean departments – and even universities – closing, and ministers have said that they accept some institutions might fail.
Two universities which took part in the survey said they feared they might not exist in ten years’ time.
The researchers at the PA Consulting Group said some universities were “still distinctly nervous”, with 11 out of the 65 which took part in the survey saying they were concerned about shortages of investment funds and staff.
And about 20 of the universities said they expected the increase in tuition fees to lead to a “significant reduction in student demand”.
Overall, Mr Boxall said that after a period of anger and upheaval over the changes in higher education, many universities were now “feeling quite bullish”.
“After a lot of change in the cost structure, a number are feeling that they have come out the other side. A lot of institutions have a lot of cash and a big chunk of the sector is in good shape.”
He said institutions were looking at various growth strategies, particularly further expansion into the international market.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
There will be more competition for students in the changing system
Two English universities are actively considering becoming private institutions, research suggests.
This would mean they would no longer get direct funding for research or teaching from the government.
The government has said it wants to open up the system to private providers of higher education.
The two universities, which have not been named, took part in a survey of vice chancellors by management consultants PA Consulting Group.
The authors of the survey say the institutions are not part of the Russell Group, which represents some of the UK’s leading universities.
They contacted the vice chancellors of 165 universities and received responses from 65.
The authors say a “substantial minority” of institutions (just over 20 of those which responded) want to minimise their dependence on government-controlled activities.
Co-author Mike Boxall said there were probably more than two institutions which were actively looking at whether to go private.
“It’s probably on the top of the agenda for a number of universities,” he said.
“It’s in the public domain that the LSE has actively considered it. There are probably more than [the two universities] for whom it will be an active thing.
“It’s more about universities looking at widening their base and thinking about where to build their business.
“The publicly-regulated area is not offering a lot of growth for universities.”
The Universities Minister David Willetts has talked of wanting to “open up the system” and the higher education White Paper, published earlier this week, sets out ways the government aims to do that.
Private institutions are being encouraged to compete with publicly-funded institutions to offer places.
In total, a quarter of all undergraduate university places will be up for grabs – unlike the present system where individual institutions are given funding for a set allocation of places.
New legislation will allow students to borrow the maximum annual undergraduate tuition fee of £9,000 as long as the institution (publicly-funded or private) agrees to abide by regulations on fair access, quality and student complaints.
Changes to university funding mean teaching grants are being largely cut. Funding is expected to come more directly from students and their increased tuition fees.
Critics say this will mean departments – and even universities – closing, and ministers have said that they accept some institutions might fail.
Two universities which took part in the survey said they feared they might not exist in ten years’ time.
The researchers at the PA Consulting Group said some universities were “still distinctly nervous”, with 11 out of the 65 which took part in the survey saying they were concerned about shortages of investment funds and staff.
And about 20 of the universities said they expected the increase in tuition fees to lead to a “significant reduction in student demand”.
Overall, Mr Boxall said that after a period of anger and upheaval over the changes in higher education, many universities were now “feeling quite bullish”.
“After a lot of change in the cost structure, a number are feeling that they have come out the other side. A lot of institutions have a lot of cash and a big chunk of the sector is in good shape.”
He said institutions were looking at various growth strategies, particularly further expansion into the international market.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Joe Cornish, Talulah Riley and Tom Hughes are among those on the list
Related Stories
More than 40 emerging talents have been named “Brits to Watch” by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Tom Hughes, from BBC drama Silk, and Talulah Riley, seen in the St Trinian’s films, are among the 42 names featured.
Comedian Joe Cornish, who made his film directing debut this year with Attack the Block, is also included.
The “Brits to Watch” will be celebrated at a black-tie event in Los Angeles on 9 July, to be attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Actors on the list include Jessica Brown Findlay, the eye-catching young star of British coming-of-age drama Albatross, and Skins actor Daniel Kaluuya – who won Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle newcomer awards for the play Sucker Punch.
Harry Lloyd, soon to be seen as the young Denis Thatcher in Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady, also features, as does Juno Temple – the actress daughter of British film-maker Julien.
Gareth Edwards, whose low-budget sci-fi film Monsters was critically acclaimed last year, joins a list that includes animators, visual effects artists and video games designers.
According to Bafta, those chosen are not “complete beginners” but people who have “already begun to show real promise”.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Our selection of the big moments, best speeches and quips from politicians in Westminster and the devolved institutions.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Joe Cornish, Talulah Riley and Tom Hughes are among those on the list
Related Stories
More than 40 emerging talents have been named “Brits to Watch” by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Tom Hughes, from BBC drama Silk, and Talulah Riley, seen in the St Trinian’s films, are among the 42 names featured.
Comedian Joe Cornish, who made his film directing debut this year with Attack the Block, is also included.
The “Brits to Watch” will be celebrated at a black-tie event in Los Angeles on 9 July, to be attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Actors on the list include Jessica Brown Findlay, the eye-catching young star of British coming-of-age drama Albatross, and Skins actor Daniel Kaluuya – who won Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle newcomer awards for the play Sucker Punch.
Harry Lloyd, soon to be seen as the young Denis Thatcher in Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady, also features, as does Juno Temple – the actress daughter of British film-maker Julien.
Gareth Edwards, whose low-budget sci-fi film Monsters was critically acclaimed last year, joins a list that includes animators, visual effects artists and video games designers.
According to Bafta, those chosen are not “complete beginners” but people who have “already begun to show real promise”.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Joe Cornish, Talulah Riley and Tom Hughes are among those on the list
Related Stories
More than 40 emerging talents have been named “Brits to Watch” by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Tom Hughes, from BBC drama Silk, and Talulah Riley, seen in the St Trinian’s films, are among the 42 names featured.
Comedian Joe Cornish, who made his film directing debut this year with Attack the Block, is also included.
The “Brits to Watch” will be celebrated at a black-tie event in Los Angeles on 9 July, to be attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Actors on the list include Jessica Brown Findlay, the eye-catching young star of British coming-of-age drama Albatross, and Skins actor Daniel Kaluuya – who won Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle newcomer awards for the play Sucker Punch.
Harry Lloyd, soon to be seen as the young Denis Thatcher in Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady, also features, as does Juno Temple – the actress daughter of British film-maker Julien.
Gareth Edwards, whose low-budget sci-fi film Monsters was critically acclaimed last year, joins a list that includes animators, visual effects artists and video games designers.
According to Bafta, those chosen are not “complete beginners” but people who have “already begun to show real promise”.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati faces a stark choice between justice and stability
The press in Lebanon and the wider region is split in its response to the issuing of four arrest warrants by the UN-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 murder of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
In Lebanon itself, the response was divided between those papers loyal to the Hariri dynasty, which hailed the UN court’s indictments as a triumph for justice, and papers close to Hezbollah – which has been implicated in the case – seeing the move as a political one intended to pave the way for further Israeli military action against the organisation.
The pan-Arab press warned that the issuing of the arrest warrants might be seen as a provocation by Hezbollah’s allies in Syria and Iran and risk triggering a new round of sectarian conflict.
Several Israeli commentators were sceptical that the Lebanese government – in which Hezbollah is a dominant force – would be capable of acting on the indictments and arrest those accused of involvement in Hariri’s murder.
Nai’la Tuini in Al-Nahar
Today is a historic day for all of Lebanon because it opens a window for retrieving the state and gives a real chance to those who want to build a country that is not based on crime, corruption and collaboration … It is a historic day because it brings hope to all the Lebanese who believe in justice and defend the truth.
Editorial in Al-Mustaqbal
Time is up for the killers as the time of justice begins.
Editorial in The Daily Star
The fact that an indictment was issued represents progress for all Lebanon. It is not, however, the end … Active co-operation is needed if Lebanon is to uphold its STL commitment. There is no half measure to be had; an obligation made to justice should bear no regard to the political climate.
Sati Nur-al-Din in Al-Safir
Nobody could have imagined that the four Hezbollah members indicted by the Special Tribunal of Lebanon [STL] might one day be arrested by the Lebanese security authorities and sent to the International Criminal Court in the Hague… The worst thing that Lebanon could do right now is to choose a collision course with the STL.
Fady Noun in French-language L’Orient – Le Jour
It’s the hour of truth. Six years after the murder of Rafik Hariri, the indictment in this case has been issued – even if still in a sealed envelope – and four international arrest warrants have been delivered … Long feared on account of Hezbollah’s veiled threats, the indictment divides Lebanon and gives rise to fears of renewed violence.
Ibrahim al-Amin in Al-Akhbar
It is easy to draw the conclusion… that the political moment the tribunal chose to issue its political indictment is directly linked to ongoing preparations for a new Israeli war on Lebanon’s resistance (Hezbollah) and possibly Syria.
Ra’uf Shahuri in Al-Anwar
The surprise was complete after Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said during a news conference that his government would act responsibly and realistically … In a few days’ time, the STL indictment will be swept under the carpet.
Editorial in Al-Quds Al-Arabi
The question that strongly arises after the indictments is how Mikati’s government will deal with the mechanisms to implement the decision especially the aspect of arrests?… The indictments and the timing might be a provocation not only for Hezbollah but its allies in Syria and Iran to push them to get involved in a war on Lebanese territory as they will not simply stand by and watch the party being attacked… The whole region is open for all possibilities, including civil and sectarian war.
Basim al-Jasar in Al-Sharq al-Awsat
Najib Mikati’s government will not live happy days and Lebanon will not know a promising summer or a cool spring. Things will remain pending and breaths will stay held awaiting developments in Syria.
Smadar Peri in Yediot Aharonot
What will happen when the Lebanese government ignores the charge sheets and the extradition warrants against four Hezbollah activists and does not co-operate with the international court in The Hague? We will very soon discover, because this is exactly what is going to happen … If someone by chance dares to go [to Hezbollah headquarters] and wave the charge sheets, he will not come out of there on his feet.
Boaz Bismuth in Yisrael Hayom
Lebanon is nervous and rightly so, because the indictments hint that Lebanon is again entering a period of uncertainty. Sunni Prime Minister Mikati promised to respect the wish of the international community. However, the composition of his government and Hezbollah’s right of veto torpedo any possible goodwill on his part.
Jonathan Spyer in The Jerusalem Post
Hezbollah has the hard power simply to refuse to co-operate with the tribunal, and to prevent by force any attempt to apprehend its members.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
