Hezbollah turning to undemocratic means: Geagea

BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Monday of launching an elimination war against caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

You say that designating a prime minister nominated by the opposition [March 8 coalition] does not undermine the position of the Sunni sect, but how can it not, when you launch an elimination war against a figure that represents 70 or 80 percent of the Sunni sect? Geagea wrote in an open letter to Nasrallah, in response to remarks made by the Hezbollah leader Sunday.

Geagea accused Hezbollah of resorting to undemocratic means to influence parliamentary deliberations to choose a prime minister.

What peaceful democratic process are you talking about? Is the fanning out of Hezbollah groups last Tuesday in the neighborhoods of Beirut in line with the peaceful and regular democratic process? Geagea asked. Is the swift change in choices that the [Progressive] Socialist Party has undergone also in line with the peaceful and regular democratic process that you talk about?

Hezbollah members, clad in black, briefly gathered in several west Beirut neighborhoods early last Tuesday, hours after Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare submitted his draft indictment in the investigation of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariris killing to pretrial judge Daniel Fransen.

The indictment is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members. Nasrallah has labeled the tribunal an Israeli project aimed at the resistance, and warned in Sundays speech that bringing down the Cabinet was only the first response to the indictment.

PSP leader Walid Jumblatt has given his support to March 8 in prime ministerial debates in a move which could enable the bloc to form a majority government.

Does the response to a judicial procedure take place through toppling the Lebanese Cabinet or through going into the judicial procedure? Geagea asked.

President Michel Sleiman launched two days of parlia! mentary consultations Monday.

Geagea rejected accusations from Nasrallah that he was involved in the killing of Prime Minister Rashid Karami. If you want to know who killed Rashid Karami then you have to join us in calling for an Arab and international fact-finding committee on the Civil War I am sure you will not, because you know much more than others about the secrets of the Lebanese war, said Geagea. The Daily Star


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