Hizbullah declared its controversial weapons "untouchable" and warned against linking the holding of Parliamentary elections in 2009 to its will to remain armed. Hizbullah's politburo member Mahmoud Qmati outlined the stand in an interview with a daily published in Qatar. Qmati said the forthcoming general elections "would be held on schedule and the present parliament's term would not be extended. The topic of resistance weapons would be discussed before that; during national dialogue that would be sponsored by President Michel Suleiman."
He said the cabinet's policy statement "should be adopted immediately and should be based on moderate concepts so that the cabinet can win a vote of confidence as soon as possible."