Lebanon is gearing up to welcome Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Assad on Friday for summit talks with President Michel Sleiman aimed at warding off an "explosion" in the country.
Informed sources told An Nahar daily in remarks published Wednesday that the importance of the visits of the Arab leaders, including Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, lies in their attempts to "ward off an explosion whose shrapnel could reach the entire region because the Lebanese issue is the hottest during this stage."
The sources said Abdullah, Assad and Sleiman will discuss during their summit talks all issues linked to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon although efforts are mainly aimed at finding an atmosphere of calm and not to interfere in the operations of the court.
"I think the next two weeks will be crucial," said Shadi Hamid, research director at the Brookings Doha Center, a think-tank.
"There is a risk of escalation, of sectarian violence, and all players involved realize that risk and are taking pre-emptive action to defuse things before they get out of hand in the next weeks and months," Hamid told AFP.
However, an adviser to Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri downplayed the chances of a new round of violence. "We do not see why this situation in Lebanon and the tribunal should lead to any conflict," Mohamed Chatah told AFP. "Usually you need two sides for a conflict and we do not see that situation developing.
Meanwhile, reports said that Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa postponed his trip to Beirut on Friday to pave for a successful visit for King Abdullah.
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Source: Al ManarAdvertisment
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