WikiLeaks: Jumblat Wanted to Equip PSP Fighters for ‘Second Round’ of Clashes with Hizbullah

Progressive Social Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said that he wanted to secretly equip PSP fighters with arms to prepare them for the “second round” of the clashes with Hizbullah after the May 7, 2008, clashes in Beirut, revealed a WikiLeaks cable published exclusively in al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday.

“We look forward to a second round… we should be prepared… I admit that Hizbullah won the first round,” he told then U.S. Charge d’Affaires Michele Sison during a meeting on May 15, 2008.

The cable also dated May,15 2008 said that the MP was not certain who will provide them with the necessary weapons, adding: “Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra will work with then Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Harir to make sure that the Saudis are willing to provide them with arms.”

He expressed fear of a confessional war in Beirut, arguing that a Moderate Sunni person, like Hariri, should become the new prime minister.

Jumblat suggested that the U.S. offer its assistance to Lebanon through reopening al-Qlaiaat airport in the North “in case another major escalation forced Beirut airport to close.”