(Washington Post) Scott Wilson - Since the killing of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, many Lebanese have intensified their opposition to the presence of Syrian troops as an affront to the country's sovereignty. In Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, Syria's deep reach has long been a daily burden, variously irksome and frightening to thousands of Lebanese eager to see it end but skeptical it ever will. Many Sunni and Shiite Muslims and Christians in the valley said they had lost income and property as a result of Syria's occupation. For thousands of Syrians living in Lebanon, the gradual development of a parallel system of preferences offers convenience and clout potentially worth fighting for.
2005-03-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive