Naharnet

Report: Qahwaji's Chances of Becoming President Increase after Saudi Visit

The chances of Army chief General Jean Qahwaji of becoming president have increased with his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah on Sunday.

Arab diplomatic sources told the daily that his visit to the kingdom, where a number of French officials were present, to sign the Saudi grant to the Lebanese army “opened the last blocked doors to his election as president.”

“His chances have also been raised with the unprecedented campaign of praise laid upon him by Hizbullah and its secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,” they added.

They expected that the rival March 8 and 14 camps would reach an agreement over Qahwaji's election as soon as the army receives the first batch of the French grant in February or March 2015.

Saudi Arabia and France inked on Tuesday in Riyadh a deal to provide the Lebanese army with $3 billion worth of French weapons, with Riyadh footing the bill.

The deal, first announced in December, comes as the Lebanese army is battling gunmen and jihadists, including from the Islamic State group, in the north and along its northeastern border with war-torn Syria.

Qahwaji attended the signing ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh after an almost 11-month delay.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended.

Ongoing disputes between the March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have been thwarting the polls.

M.T.


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