Too fragile

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The 30th anniversary of the start of Lebanon's civil war, due 13 April, will find the country once again in turmoil. The assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Al- Hariri has sent shockwaves across the country, indeed across the region. Once again, gruesome scenes of bombings and charred bodies have become common. Once again, Lebanese are trading accusations of treason and sedition. Once again, foreign forces that kept the war going in Lebanon for 15 years are gloating, waiting to seize the moment.

What's good for others may not be good for the Lebanese. The Lebanese government and opposition need to put their country's stability and security before all. The opposition has pressed for the withdrawal of Syrian forces and driven the government out of office. So far so good, but beware. A large part of the Lebanese public still supports the government and wants Syria to stay.

Lebanon is not safe, not until sectarianism has become a matter of the past. The threat of foreign forces meddling in the country is very real. We urge all international and regional institutions -- especially the UN Security Council -- to leave Lebanon alone. If necessary, let the Lebanese issue be debated by the UN General Assembly or by a special, neutral committee appointed by that assembly. The General Assembly is known to be objective, balanced and democratic. Not so the Security Council, which can be dictatorial in its ways, easily swayed by the interests of its five permanent members. A deal reached within the Security Council may just throw Lebanon back into civil war.

The Lebanese, particularly the opposition, must not take Lebanon down the road of divisions and violence. A national schism is the last thing Lebanon needs. The Lebanese must not listen to those who want to do them harm. Protests, turbulence and violence may rid other nations of dictatorships, but in Lebanon they can be too risky. The Lebanese have to think of other methods. Lebanon is a special case.