Attempts are being made to break up the monopoly of leadership of the Muslim Shiite community, the largest single community in Lebanon, according to a report published in the liberal daily Al Balad on Aug. 1. "There are signs of movement and action within the Shiite community aimed at changing the traditional equation whereby Amal Movement and Hizbullah are the monopolizing leadership of the 1.2 million-strong Shiite community," said Ali al-Amin, Al Balad's expert on Shiite affairs.

Amal, led by House Speaker Nabih Berri, and Hizbullah, headed by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, have often clashed and competed for votes in various parts of Lebanon. Although Amal is older, Hizbullah, has been able to attract larger numbers of the Shiite population mainly because of the generosity of its social services.

The recent municipal elections, which took place two months ago, were a turning point in the struggle for leadership in the Shiite community, according to al-Amin's article in Al Balad. The results constituted a setback for Berri's Amal in Beirut, the Bekaa and the South of Lebanon, and represented significant gains for Nasrallah's Party of God. This prompted Berri to complain about attempts to "target, downsize and marginalize" him and his movement.

Al-Amin indicated that Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon, may not have been too far away from these developments. Amal is known to be the strongest pro-Syrian ally in Lebanon. It, along with Iran, is known to be a main supporter of Hizbullah. But according to al-Amin, Syria has always had the power to strengthen, weaken or eliminate political forces in Lebanon whenever it chooses. "Is it true to say that Damascus is beginning to think of changing the political equation within the Shiite community?" al-Asmin asked.

Proclamation

On Aug. 1, 2004, a new grouping was proclaimed in the southern Lebanese town of Musseileh, only a short distance from Berri's residence. Issam Abu Darwish, a prominent Shiite businessman who is close to Speaker Nabih Berri and also a close friend of former President Amin Gemayel, proclaimed on Sunday the birth of a new Shiite group called al-Kiyan (entity) Gathering, AS SAFIR and daily AL MUSTAQBAL said August 2.

"I would like to point out that our friends and contacts are numerous ... We will put up with those who fought against our group before it was even born. And regardless of the obstacles we will work because the nation requires sacrifices regardless of the price," Abu Darwish said.

"We are not a party and we will never be one. We are not against any of the forces existing on the political scene and not an alternative to anyone. We don't want to cancel the others... However, we will be in the forefront of the march to defend the nation, which is passing through very dangerous phases and circumstances," he added. "Our gathering is for a united Lebanon... It is a humanitarian, social, cultural, health and development gathering... Furthermore, in politics we will stay away from degradation and violations and pettiness at all levels," Abu Darwish said.

He pointed out that the group was inspired by the political line or trend of missing Shiite Imam Musa Sadr, the founder of the Shiite Amal movement led by Speaker Berri. "Before politics, we are interested in projects, which are many and varied, including social, educational, cultural and health projects... Nevertheless, in politics we will not be lenient or flexible with corruption and we will not be idle spectators, but, we will speak up bluntly," he added.

The new group underscored the need for excellent and distinctive relations with Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon with some 20,000 troops deployed in several Lebanese regions. "Syria saved Lebanon from being partitioned and backed the process of liberating the south..." Abu Darwish said urging an end to hostile campaigns against Damascus.

Earlier last week, another Muslim Shiite group appeared to be taking shape under the name of "Muslim Shiite Elite Grouping," comprising prominent intellectual, professional and business figures, according to Beirut's daily An Nahar on July 29. The group held a widely-publicized meeting at the home of Dr. Mahmoud Hoda Ramadan, a prominent Shiite, in the mountain village of Souk el-Gharb "to discuss ways of protecting and guiding citizens in safeguarding their political freedoms and to avoid being manipulated by the power of money."

Significantly, the meeting was attended by the cultural attache at the Iranian embassy in Beirut, Mohammed Hassan Hashemi and some 400 Shiite personalities, including representatives from the Higher Shiite Council, Hizbullah and the party of former house speaker Kamel Asaad. In order to dispel rumors and speculation, Ramadan told the Saudi-owned daily Asharq Al Awsat, "Iran has nothing to do with setting up the group." Some analysts recalled that Iran's former Ambassador to Syria, Ali Akbar Mohashemi, had played a key role in the creation of Hizbullah in the early 1980's.

Voices Being Heard

"The results of the recently held municipal elections have opened a window for some Shiite parties to find a place for themselves between Amal and Hizbullah or seek to impose a new equation on the Lebanese Shiite scene," al-Amin said in Al Balad. He said, "Shiite voices have begun to be heard demanding a change away from the monopoly of leadership."

These developments come amid movements elsewhere in the Shiite community encouraged by the belief that "Syria no longer prefers to maintain the present situation, which has prevailed in Lebanon since 1992," al-Amin said. While indicating Syria may be encouraging changes in the balance of powers within the Shiite community, al-Amin did not say exactly what Syria wants or how it wants the political forces to look on the Muslim Shiite scene.

In the meantime, Amal's chief Berri has been busy purging and reshuffling the leadership at all levels by virtue of the power vested in him by the central committee of the movement. Analysts said Berri seeks to consolidate Amal and his leadership of it, in case he is not re-elected as speaker of the house.

Another Shiite-led party is planning to assert itself in a big way before the end of the year, al-Amin said. He was referring specifically to the Socialist Democratic Party headed by former speaker Kamel Asaad, a veteran Shiite politician who lost favor with the Syrians and their Lebanese allies after the civil war.

The Higher Shiite Council, the highest Shiite religious authority in the country, has been having its own dilemma after the -- death of its president Mohammed Mehdi Shamseddin. Acting in his place now is Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan. Reports said that the election of a full-fledged president has been obstructed by the lack of consensus among the community's leaders to an acceptable successor.