Naharnet Newsdesk - Taif's Godfather Warns Extension Would Knock Down Lebanon

Taif's Godfather Warns Extension Would Knock Down Lebanon

The Godfather of the Taif Accord that halted Lebanon's civil war has bluntly warned that the so-called basket of constitutional amendments to help President Lahoud stay on in office would certainly bring about Lebanon's disintegration.
The warning by ex-Parliament Speaker Hussein Husseini coincided with a statement by Premier Hariri, indirectly forecasting an election of a new president for Lebanon by Nov. 24 instead of extending or renewing Lahoud's tenure.

Husseini, an arch foe of Hariri, is ironically sharing the premier's resentment of Lahoud, whose 6-year term in the Baabda Palace expires this coming November. Husseini also fell in step with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in opposing any constitutional changes.

"What is being circulated is outright change of the system to undermine Lebanon. It's a leap into the unknown," Husseini said in an interview with An Nahar of the 'basket of constitutional amendments' being marketed by the Lahoud extension lobby.

"It is an act of sabotage designed to bring about Lebanon's disintegration," Husseini said in a follow up of his warning two days ago that the proposed constitutional amendments would lay the groundwork for a new civil war.

Husseini was speaker when the Arab League convened Lebanon's first parliament session abroad, namely in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea resort of Taif in 1989, to approve the Accord that halted 15 years of civil warfare. The 22-nation Arab League, including Syria, and the United States and the United Nations had endorsed the Taif pact.

Husseini said he was certain that Syria would not approve any of the constitutional changes envisaged by the 'extensionists.'(Picture shows Hariri making prediction of imminent presidential change)

Beirut, Updated 26 Jun 04, 23:08