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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Aoun may try to form a parallel Lebanon government |
| 2007-09-09 |
| Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun hinted at the formation of a parallel government if the country's competing political camps fail to agree on the next president for Lebanon. "The second government will include members of all (the country's) religious sects in line with the proposal of President (Emile) Lahoud," Aoun told Dubai Satellite Channel. Lahoud has said he would name army commander General Michel Suleiman as his provisional successor if Parliament fails to elect a head of state by Nov. 24. Aoun said the Hezbollah -led opposition was seeking to unify its ranks in a new government, stressing that he will not "abandon Hezbollah for the sake of March 14 Forces." According to the constitution the head of the government should be a Muslim Sunnite. Since Aoun is a Christian Maronite , any government he may try to form will be considered illegitimate and won't be recognized by the world community and the Arab countries. The only 2 countries that could recognize such an illegitimate government would be Syria and Iran. Aoun accused the United States of political discrimination. "The blind American support for the Siniora government is obvious Â… America became a party in the conflict between (government) opponents and followers," Aoun said. US ambassador to Lebanon Jeffery Feltman said Aoun sounded just like Syrian minister Buthaina Shaaban in his criticism of the United States. Ms. Shaaban is the minister of expatriates and an outspoken critic of the US. Meanwhile, Maronite Patriarch Boutros Sfeir told LBC television that "we want a president who is at an equal distance from all the political parties," stressing that the new head of state has also go to be "accepted by all." Sfeir's remarks came following talks in the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI, who was reportedly praying for Lebanon to appoint the next president in line with the constitutional deadline. "The new president has to be a fair and just man, who will be the pride of the nation and not come on the throne to fill his pockets or cause any trouble," Sfeir stressed. This obviously rules out any chances for Aoun, because he is viewed by political analysts as the most polarizing politician in Lebanon. Aoun's alliance with Hezbollah is considered by most analysts "as the cause of Lebanon's ills add to this his obnoxious character which has gained him many enemies". The summer war and the occupation of downtown Beirut by Hezbollah and Aoun's FPM has angered many Lebanese and forced the emigration of many who no longer see a future for them in Lebanon. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 nobody voted for Aoun, who's become a Syrian puppet, Big Jim...I don't understand your comment either.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-09-09 12:25 |
| #2 What did they vote for? |
| Posted by: Oddball 2007-09-09 12:19 |
| #1 Ah, the people of Lebanon are getting just what they voted for. Cheers! |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-09-09 08:14 |