"They simply ignore Lebanese patriotic sentiment," Nahar Ash-Shabab, a supplement to An-Nahar newspaper that covers issues concerning the youth in Lebanon, has said.

Carla Abou Mrad, press officer for Najwa Karam (pictured right), claims the singer had recorded a song, in which she praises Bashar Assad, seven years ago to lament the death of former Syrian President Hafez Assad.

The song, however, features the lyrics: "we want to hand over to Bashar the Syrian flag," and we want him "to carry us from one victory to another."

Anti-Syrian Lebanese figures accuse the Assad regime of involvement in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination and a series of other killings and bombings that have struck Lebanon since Feb. 2005.

A huge demonstration and international pressure in the aftermath of Hariri's murder drove Syrian forces out of Lebanon in April 2005 after 20 years of hegemony.

Anti-Syrian sentiment is high among followers of the March 14 coalition which backs Premier Fouad Saniora's government.

Among those who have songs with lyrics on Syria are Wael Kfouri, Fares Karam, Assi el Hillani, Houda Haddad, Dina Hayek and Rida, according to Nahar Ash-Shabab.

It has urged the artists for a public apology and wished they could donate only 5 percent of their wealth to the Lebanese army which is locked in gunbattles with Fatah al-Islam militants at the northern refugee camp of Nahar al-Bared.

Even e-mails slamming the artists for lack of patriotic sentiment are being exchanged among the Lebanese community worldwide.

"Shame on you!" says one mail. "The entire Lebanese people are sad today for the Martyrs' of the Lebanese army" while the singers praise Syria, the mail goes as saying.

Source: Naharnet