LEBANON - Mar 11 - Hezbollah Declares It 'Is Not A Syrian Tool'.

Hezbollah's deputy leader Shaikh Naim Qasim, announces the organistation plans to play a bigger role in Lebanese politics, a two-pronged message that it seeks domestic prominence and international acceptance. But the group, which is considered terrorist by US, and which drove Israel out of Lebanon, will not end its fight against Israel, and it will not give up its arms as long as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains unresolved. Qasim said: Our participation in the political life will not affect the resistance. The goal of the resistance is clear and specific: Fighting and confronting Israel". It was the first time that Hezbollah has announced its intention to be more active politically, a move that followed a thundering rally on Mar 8 that dwarfed anti-Syrian and anti-government protests taking place in the capital for the past three weeks. Qasim spoke as Syrian troops, whose country together with Iran backs Hezbollah, were busy clearing positions in northern and central Lebanon and headed east to the Bekaa Valley and Syria under US and international pressure. Former Pres Ameen Gemayel, a member of the opposition that has been pushing for a withdrawal of Syria's troops from Lebanon, welcomed Hezbollah's decision, saying it was "important and positive". "We understand their commitment to the principle of resistance. It's the reason for its existence", said Gemayel. Hezbollah has been involved in Lebanese politics for over a decade and has nine members in the current legislature, whose term expires in May. But Hezbollah has steered away from the major decision-making as its army focused on fighting Israel, earning itself wide respect among Lebanese. The group has largely sat on the fence since the Feb 14 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri plunged Lebanon in political and security instability. But a Syrian troop withdrawal that began last week has forced Hezbollah to show its hand and to attempt to present itself as a Lebanese nationalist group despite its ties to Iran and Syria. Qasim said the turmoil has presented the group with two options: either to sit back and watch developments unfold or plunge head-on to try to influence events. Qasim said: The party has decided to be more active in entering internal political life so that its experience could be used to save Lebanon after all the complexities which have emerged on the political level. We have realised that [recent] developments have brought Lebanon to a situation where we are required to speak out on everything on the internal [political] level. This will increase the size of our participation in the political life". Qasim said by throwing Hezbollah's weight into the central arena of Lebanese politics the group would be able "to influence the general political vision and the general picture" in the country. "We felt that Lebanon today is at a crossroad, and this requires that we be more active internally", Qasim said. Asked whether Hezbollah would turn into Syria's military arm in Lebanon, Qasim said: We are not an arm for anyone. We are a Lebanese party with its own convictions and aspirations. We don't take orders from anyone and we don't accept to follow any state in the world. We are not a tool in anybody's hand".