The Lebanese cabinet crisis persists even though Hizb Allah and Amal, the two principal Shia political groups, have affirmed in a joint statement their commitment to a deal recently reached with Saad al-Hariri, the leader of the anti-Syian Future bloc, Aljazeera reports.The deal recognises Hizb Allah’s armed resistance as legitimate as long as the Shebaa Farms remain occupied by Israel and Lebanese prisoners languish in Israeli jails.

The announcement was made on Friday after a meeting of the leaders of the two pro-Syrian Shia political groups at Ein Al-Tineh in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.Aljazeera reported quoting Hizb Allah and Amal leaders that they were now awaiting the translation of the accord into concrete action.The two Shia groups have been boycotting the cabinet for days now over differences with the Future bloc and its allies for their approach to the assassinations of anti-Syrian personalities, especially former prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. 

By Ayat Basma BEIRUT, Dec 30 (Reuters) – A year after he predicted a rash of political killings and upheaval, Lebanon’s most famous clairvoyant will not tell a jittery public what 2006 holds when he makes his usual end-year television appearance. Thousands of Lebanese tune in every New Year’s Eve to hear what Michel Hayek foresees, but the 38-year-old said he no longer wanted to be seen as the bearer of bad news.

"After all the clamour surrounding my 2005 predictions and the rumours that spread later in my name, I have decided not to announce my predictions for this year (2006)," Hayek told Reuters. "What has troubled me most are the rumours. I don’t want to be the reason people are afraid to go to the grocer or send their children to school." A rumour spread by mobile phone text messages and attributed to Hayek predicted mass bombings would tear apart central Beirut earlier this month. So scared were Lebanese, whose nerves have been worn by a string of such attacks, that many shunned Christmas shopping and Sunday strolls to stay home. Hayek denies saying "something weird" would happen downtown that weekend, but many felt his predictions for 2005 had proved so uncannily accurate that any rumour was too scary to ignore.

Associated Press,  Army engineers in south Lebanon dismantled Friday two rockets mounted for firing at Israel, a senior military official said of a move that suggested Lebanon was exerting greater control over its border area. "The two rockets were found in an orchard in the border town of Naqoura," the official told the Associated Press, adding that the army was investigating who owned the rockets and had searched the area for more. The incident came three days after Lebanese-based guerrillas fired rockets into northern Israel, causing damage to the town of Kiryat Shmona and lightly injuring four people.

In a rare rebuke, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora condemned the rocket attack and said his government would catch the perpetrators to make sure it did not happen again. Although it was not the first time that Lebanese soldiers had seized rockets in southern Lebanon, Friday’s dismantling suggested the army was being more vigilant following Saniora’s remarks. The jets also flew over a PFLP-GC base in Sultan Yacoub, a village about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Syrian border, security officials said.

By MICHAEL SLACKMAN, BEIRUT, Lebanon Dec. 29 – The roadblocks begin a few miles before Gen. Michel Aoun’s house on a plusvh green hillside dotted with expansive villas. First, two soldiers and concrete barriers stop traffic. Then a maze of concrete blocks slows cars to a crawl. Then three more soldiers. Then a gate, and more guards, and a metal detector. Cellphones are placed in a cabinet and, finally, there he is, General Aoun, leader of the largest Christian bloc in Parliament.

Clear across the city, out of town and up a winding mountain road, the country’s Druse leader, Walid Jumblatt, is holed up in a medieval castle, protected by soldiers, checkpoints, an army of his own men and a towering metal gate.In fact, most of Lebanon’s chief political and factional leaders are taking cover these days, rarely leaving their well-guarded compounds, fearful they will be killed.

"Nowadays it has become more risky," Mr. Jumblatt said when asked if he ever leaves his mountain fortress. "They have listening devices stronger than the Lebanese Army. They have infiltrated everything."