 Lebanon has made
progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991
and the end of the devastating 16-year civil war. Under the Ta'if
Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese
have established a more equitable political system, particularly
by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while
institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since
the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful
elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded,
and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government
authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, the
radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about
20,000 troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon,
and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was legitimized
by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if
Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence in Lebanon
by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government
to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord.
Israel's withdrawal from its security zone in southern Lebanon
in May of 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese Christians
and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. |
.... Click Here....
