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Hizbollah will not disarm: Nasrallah

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday made his first public appearance since the war with Israel ended on August 14.

At a massive rally of around 500,000 persons in his southern Beirut stronghold, Mr. Nasrallah said the gathering symbolised a "divine, historic and strategic victory" over Israel in the 34-day war. As the crowds waved the yellow Hizbollah flags, interspersed with the Lebanese national flags, Mr. Nasrallah said he had made his appearance despite the security risks that were involved. Prior to the rally, Israel had not ruled out assassinating the Hizbollah leader.

Mr. Nasrallah said the Government of Lebanon was incapable of protecting the country.

Rejecting calls for disarmament, Mr. Nasrallah said his group would not give up weapons at a time when the Lebanese state was weak and incapable of defending itself.

Hizbollah remained a force that would shield Lebanon from civil war, he said and urged all Lebanese not to turn the present situation into a sectarian crisis.

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