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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Sueleiman: "We will not ask for any political seat." | |
| 2007-10-27 | |
| As army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman outlined that he would not ask for a seat in the power system, Egypt stressed that electing a head of state is strictly a Lebanese issue and non-Christian opposition-majority leaders said naming a consensus presidential candidate is in Bkirki's hands. In line with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit's "Hands off Lebanon" outcry and his announcement that Cairo does not support any presidential candidate, Gen. Suleiman was quoted as telling officers upon returning from a visit to Cairo and talks with President Husni Mubarak: "We will not ask for any political seat." "We will not allow, at all, the political manipulation of the martyrs' blood and sacrifices" Suleiman was quoted by the daily an-Nahar as saying.
-The need to reach a broad understanding on all pending issues and not just on a consensus presidential candidate.Meanwhile Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Majority leader Saad Hariri, who represent the opposition and majority in the ongoing talks for choosing a presidential candidate, said they are waiting for efforts by the Maronite Church to achieve consensus on a candidate. Berri was quoted by an-Nahar as saying: "I've informed Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir that I'll support the white smoke that will billow from Bkirki's (chimney). I also make this declaration on behalf of Sheik Saad Hariri." An-Nahar said Berri and Hariri are keen on waiting for Bkirki to choose a candidate so they can avoid the charge that the Shiites, Sunnis and Druze have chosen a Maronite President without the approval of the Maronite Church. A Hizbullah delegation informed Patriarch Sfeir Thursday that the Shiite party supports Consensus by the Christians on a presidential candidate conditional to nationwide consensus. A four-member committee representing Maronite factions of the opposition and majority has already set the specifications of a presidential candidate and set the assignments that the new head of state should shoulder. The committee, meeting in Bkirki, is to proceed with its efforts to choose a candidate or a list of candidates in line with the specifications and envisaged assignments. Abul Gheit on Thursday urged foreign states not to interfere in the Lebanese presidential vote, echoing an outcry by the late Anwar Sadat: "Hands off Lebanon." "It is up to the Lebanese people to decide themselves," Abul Gheit said after meeting pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, whose extended term in office expires by Nov. 24. The late Egyptian President Sadat launched his famous "hands off Lebanon" outcry in the mid-1970s, during the early stages of the civil war that lasted until 1990 despite the intervention by 30.000 Syrian troops and a 10.000-strong intelligence apparatus. During his visit Abul Gheit also met leaders of the ruling majority and Hezbollah-led opposition as well as Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Berri in addition to Lahoud, Sfeir and Sunni Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani. After meeting the patriarch, Abul Gheit said: "We will not interfere with candidates and it should not be inferred that we prefer one candidate over another. We hope that all interference stops." He explained that a recent meeting between Gen. Michel Sleiman and Mubarak was in the framework of "supporting the Lebanese army", which fought a bloody 15-week battle with Fatah al-Islam terrorists in the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 The show must go on. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2007-10-27 01:49 |