South Lebanon: the boom that never came

Five years after Israeli ouster, south Lebanon still awaits recovery.

By Jihad Siqlaoui - May 23 , 2005

Lebanese residents near the border with Israel had high hopes for an economic recovery when Israeli forces unilaterally withdrew five years ago, but the boom never came.

The border region has remained an economic wasteland, marred by sporadic violence.

The Shiite militia Hezbollah has maintained a heavy armed presence since the last Israeli soldier withdrew on May 24, 2000 from an 850-square-kilometer (330-square-mile) border zone in accordance with UN Resolution 425.

For Hezbollah, the battle is not over.

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Lebanese women seek their place in parliament

Lebanese women who won the right to vote in 1953 are calling for more seats in male-dominated parliament.

"In countries like ours, women enter politics in mourning clothes". Christian opposition MP Nayla Moawad, who made the comment, is one of a few women running for a seat in Lebanon's male-dominated parliament.

She was propelled onto the tribal political scene by the 1989 murder of her husband, president Rene Moawad.

Most female candidates for the four-stage polls that open May 29 are, like Moawad, linked to male political figures.

Bahia Hariri, who will be running for the fourth time in south Lebanon, is the sister of Rafiq Hariri, the five-time former reformist prime minister murdered last February 14.

Lebanese army kills man as rival Christians clash May 23 , 2005 BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese soldiers inadvertently shot dead one man …