Pope speaks out against Christian arrests in Lebanon

Pope John Paul II has spoken against the mass arrests of Christian anti-Syrian activists in Lebanon.

He has called for a strengthening of democracy and plurality in the country.

Since August 7, the Lebanese army has arrested about 250 Christian activists opposed to Syria.

The clampdown has raised fears of the large role security services have in Lebanese life and created tensions between the army and the cabinet, which was not informed of the military action.

The Pope says: "A pluralistic and free Lebanon constitutes for the entire Middle East region a richness: let everyone help the Lebanese people preserve it and make it bear fruit."