PSP: Burns Asks Jumblat to Help Form New Govt. while Avoiding Vacuum

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns on Monday telephoned Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, asking him to help in forming a new government while avoiding a power vacuum in the country, the PSP said in a statement.

“Jumblat reiterated his stance that he does not mind an agreement on forming a new government, noting that that is only possible through supporting President Michel Suleiman's efforts and his nonstop endeavor to keep dialogue channels open among the Lebanese parties and to mend the severed ties that only worsen the stalemate,” the PSP added.

Jumblat also stressed his “total rejection” of a political vacuum in the country out of his keenness on “stability and civil peace.”

On October 24, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that any power vacuum in Lebanon could be “taken advantage of” by Syria, amid calls by the opposition March 14 camp for the government to step down.

"We don't want to see a vacuum of legitimate political authority that could then be taken advantage of by the Syrians or by others that could create even greater instability and violence," Clinton told a news conference.

"We call on all parties in Lebanon to support the process that President Suleiman is leading to choose a responsible effective, government that can address the threats that (Lebanon) faces and hold accountable those responsible for last week's bombing" that killed Intelligence Bureau chief Maj. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan and two other people.

Clinton said the United States would not prejudge the outcome of Suleiman's call for all-party talks on forming a new government.

"This must be a Lebanese process," she said.

"But the Lebanese people deserve so much better. They deserve to live in peace and they deserve to have a government that reflects their aspirations, not acts as proxies and agents for outside forces."

Al-Hasan led a series of probes linking the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad to political assassinations in Lebanon.

The bombing has raised fears about unrest in the country, which is divided between supporters and opponents of Assad.

Hasan's murder also has provoked a political crisis, with a Syria-hostile opposition calling for the resignation of the government dominated by the Syrian-backed Hizbullah.

The opposition -- which has blamed Damascus for Hasan's killing -- has announced that its delegates would boycott all meetings with the government of Prime Minister Najib Miqati until he steps down.