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VATICAN-LEBANON Jun-29-2007 (270 words) xxxi
Vatican expresses concern over increasing violence in Lebanon
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican expressed its growing concern for the situation in Lebanon, where internal violence has worsened in recent weeks.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora met June 28 with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, for talks on the Lebanese crisis, the Vatican said.
In a statement, the Vatican said the meeting focused on the difficult political situation in Lebanon, on the "grave threats" to the country's security and on possible solutions.
The two men also discussed wider regional issues and the problems faced by the Christian minority in the Middle East, the Vatican said. Lebanon's population is estimated to be 40 percent Christian, the highest percentage of any Middle East country.
The Vatican statement said the meeting underlined the need to resume dialogue in Lebanon among "all components of society, each of which is called upon to contribute to the common good of the country."
The Vatican asked the international community to support dialogue efforts, which it said are decisive for Lebanon and the entire Middle East.
Lebanon has experienced internal strife since the resignation of all the country's Shiite Cabinet ministers last November. At that time, Hezbollah, the Iranian- and Syrian-backed militant group, launched a campaign to oust the Western-leaning and Sunni-dominated government of Siniora. The Sunni and the Shiite are the largest branches of Islam.
The violence has included car bombs, shelling and street fighting, and at least 179 people have died.
More recently, the Lebanese army also has been battling Islamic militants in the northern part of the country.
END
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