Hizb Allah chief: We will keep our arms

The interesting bit is that Jumblatt has sided with Hizballah against the political pressure being exerted by Aoun and the Christians. Jumblatt has taken an anti-Syria position. Hizballah has recieved substantial financial and military support from Syria. Hizballah has been on the retreat since the Syrian withdrawl. This alliance seems to based on the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" principle. From Al Jazeera.

"Any hand that reaches out to our weapons is an Israeli hand that will be cut off," Hizb Allah chief Shaikh Hassan Nasrallah told tens of thousands of supporters on Wednesday - the fifth anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

"We do not want to attack anyone and will not allow anyone to attack Lebanon, but if anyone, anyone, thinks of disarming the resistance, we will fight them like the martyrs of Karbala," he said, referring to a battle in Islamic history pivotal to Shias.

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt also spoke at the rally, defending Hizb Allah's right to keep arms. The prominent opposition leader told the thousands of Hizb Allah supporters that "We must not allow international interference to undermine Lebanon's principles".

Jumblatt recently forged an alliance with Hizb Allah in Mount Lebanon for the crucial parliamentary elections, due to kick off this Sunday.

Jumblatt, one of the most vocal critics of Syria's interference in Lebanese politics, said that Hizb Allah had to be protected "out of loyalty to slain premier Rafik al-Hariri".