Naharnet

Moqbel Meets Aoun, Says They Back Naming New Security Chiefs

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel held talks Monday with Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun in Rabieh.

“I came here today to explore General Aoun's demands and we held a thorough discussion on the current situations in the country,” said Moqbel after the meeting.

“The General fully supports the appointment (of new security chiefs) and I personally support this option,” the minister noted.

“In the event of failure to reach consensus and appoint new officials, we will see what to do, as General Aoun said” during the meeting, Moqbel added.

Aoun and Moqbel had been at loggerheads after the FPM chief accused the minister of extending the terms of several military officials in an "illegal" manner.

The cabinet sessions were recently suspended for more than three weeks due to the dispute over the appointments. The bickering later escalated into a thorny debate over the cabinet's decision-making mechanism in the absence of a president, with the FPM accusing Prime Minister Tammam Salam of infringing on the powers of the Christian head of state.

Aoun has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, his son-in-law, as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.

The cabinet will convene Tuesday at the Grand Serail and the issues of the decision-making mechanism and the growing garbage crisis are expected to be the focus of the session.

Y.R.

M.T.


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