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Nigeria, U.S., UK evacuate citizens from Lebanon



July 17, 2006, 3 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes ago.

By AND Nigeria

NIGERIA has begun the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon following the escalation of fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah guerrillas.

Several other countries, including the United States and Britain are toeing the same path, while the Group of Eight industrial nations (G-8) has called for peace and restraint by both parties in the Middle East. Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, last night put the figure of the Nigerians that have already been evacuated from Lebanon at "over 100."

She disclosed in a press statement that the Nigerian government is also assisting some other African countries in the effort. The minister disclosed: "The situation in Lebanon is being constantly monitored and Mr. President is being briefed regularly. The Federal Government will take every necessary action to assist its citizens in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East where their welfare may be in danger. In fact, the Ambassador had evacuated over a hundred Nigerian nationals who indicated a desire to leave Lebanon."

Saying that the Nigerian Ambassador Kabiru Assayouti had been "doing a great job" of attending to the needs of the Nigerians and sending them to safety, the minister assured their relatives back home that efforts were on to protect their loved ones from danger. She said: "The Federal Government is particularly concerned about the welfare of Nigerian nationals in Lebanon. President Obasanjo has directed that everything possible be done to get them out of harm's way." The affected Nigerians, the minister disclosed, were initially evacuated to a town near the border with Syria, adding that arrangements had now been concluded to take them to a much safer ground in Damascus.

From there, those who wish to return to Nigeria will be repatriated home, she pledged. The minister added: "Nigerians should know that the Government is taking all steps to ensure the provision of assistance to its nationals in Lebanon who request for it. There are some Nigerians who have said that they do not desire to leave yet. Their situation is being monitored through the head of the Nigerian community in Beirut." The statement continued: "Nigeria is also assisting other African nations, such as Ghana, Senegal and Ethiopia, who have come to us because they do not have diplomatic presence in Lebanon or because of other issues."

Stating last night that Nigeria is deeply concerned about the recent outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East, the minister said the Federal Government wants "all parties to ceasefire and explore a peaceful resolution of the issues at stake" And, outraged by the havoc that the crisis between Israel and Lebanon is inflicting on the Middle East, the G-8 yesterday cautioned the two warring parties to embrace peace. They called for peace as they met in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the weekend. As the talks were going on in Russia, the U.S. and Britain were making arrangements to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon.

According to the Associated Press, Russia pledged to also evacuate its citizens from Lebanon. U.S. President George W. Bush and European allies have had differing views on who should be blamed, but they all urged both sides to restore calm. Bush had been backing Israel's right to defend itself, but yesterday he also urged Israel to show restraint. "Our message to Israel is, look, defend yourself," Bush said, adding:

"But as you do so, be mindful of the consequences. So we've urged restraint." Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that the fighting between Israel and Lebanese guerrillas could ignite a wider conflict, and said the international community had to use all means possible to end the violence immediately. "If Lebanon explodes, we all know ... how it can resonate across other countries in the region," Lavrov told reporters at the meeting. Leaders of the G-8 nations - the United States, Russia, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada - began a full day of discussions and issued joint declarations that called for bolstering energy security, fighting infectious diseases and improving education.

But concerns about the Middle East warfare dominated the summit. Israeli warplanes began striking Lebanon after Hezbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers on Wednesday in a cross-border raid into Israel. The bombings continued into Sunday, as Hezbollah fired barrages of rockets ever deeper into Israel. "The international community must address the root causes" of the violence taking place in the Middle East, Bush said. "This started because Hezbollah decided to capture two Israeli soldiers and fire hundreds of rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon," Bush said.

"That's the cause of the crisis." British Prime Minister Tony Blair, sitting with Bush for a bilateral meeting on the summit's sidelines, said everyone would work hard to find a common solution. "We all want the situation to calm down," Blair said. The only way to stop the hostilities, Blair said, was to address the basic reasons - extremists backed by Iran and Syria. "I think it would be a very good signal to send out to the world at this moment that we can agree to such a position," Blair said.

French President Jacques Chirac said he wanted the G-8 nations to call "for a show of moderation on the part of all parties involved, so that we can establish the conditions of a long-lasting cease-fire in the region." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said U.S. officials had told Israeli Prime Minister Olmert that they were concerned about the effect the violence was having on innocent civilians. "There is a great concern on all sides about civilian casualties, there is a great concern about damage to civilian infrastructure," Rice said. "I don't think that there is anyone here who would say that Israel does not have a right to defend itself.

And I think that everyone here would note that the extremists who are attacking not just Israel but the very foundation for peace need to be stopped." White House counsellor Dan Bartlett said there was a growing consensus on the Middle East among summit members.

"They share the president's view that Hezbollah and Hamas as well as Syria and Iran are clearly acting in a provocative manner that is disrupting the peace process in the Middle East," Bartlett said. While other G-8 leaders have questioned whether Israel's response to the capture of its soldiers went too far, Bush has placed blame squarely on Hezbollah and the nations that back it and has declined to call for a cease-fire. Bush described the escalation of violence as "a moment of clarification" that should show the world how Hezbollah is disrupting the peace process.

"It is a moment that requires all of us to work together and send a clear message, not only to Hezbollah, but to the Iranians who financed Hezbollah and to the Syrians who house Hezbollah," Bush said. Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to be more in line with European leaders who have condemned Israel's attacks as excessive. Putin has said it was unacceptable for Hezbollah to take hostages and shell others' territory, but also for Israel to use massive force in response.

"It is our impression that aside from seeking to return the abducted soldiers, Israel is pursuing wider goals," Putin said. He did not elaborate. Putin had molded this year's G-8 summit - the first hosted by his country - to showcase Russia's re-emergence on the world stage after a devastating economic collapse in 1998.

However, he failed to win a much-anticipated agreement with the U.S. on Russia's admission to the World Trade Organisation, the 149-nation group that sets the rules for world trade. The United States is the only country that has not signed off on Russia's membership in the WTO, and Bush dashed Putin's hopes for getting in now.

From Oghogho Obayuwana (with agency reports) for Guardian Newspaper