Suleiman Resumes Consultations with Rival Parties over Resumption of All-Party Talks
President Michel Suleiman held a series of consultations on Tuesday with Lebanese foes over the political situation in the country while the opposition insists on the resignation of the cabinet as a key condition to resume any political activity with the March 8 alliance.
Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora held talks with Suleiman at the Baabda Palace, where he briefed him on the March 14 alliance's demands concerning the immediate resignation of the government and the camp's stance from the recent developments in the country.
Sources close to Saniora told LBCI that consultations are ongoing between the March 14 members on the national dialogue.
“Our stance will be united,” the sources said.
Saniora later left the Baabda Palace without making any statement.
MTV channel reported that Suleiman asked Saniora if the alliance agrees on forwarding the date of the national dialogue session, which is set to resume on November 12, however the latter didn't meet his request.
Suleiman also held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri's advisor Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.
The last national dialogue session was held at the Baabda Palace on September 20.
On Sunday, Suleiman held talks with Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel to persuade him to resume the national dialogue.
The president also held talks on Monday with Prime Minister Najib Miqati and with National Struggle bloc Minister Wael Abu Faour.
Clashes broke out on Sunday after the funeral of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan between mourners, mainly March 14 supporters, and the security forces near the Grand Serail.
Police fired in the air and used tear gas to drive back protesters who tried to storm Miqati's office.
Opposition figures have called for Miqati to resign and his government, which is dominated by pro-Syria parties, to step down.
The opposition has blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad for Friday's car bomb blast, which killed Hasan and several other people in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood in Beirut.
They also hold Assad responsible for the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a huge blast in Beirut.
Lebanon's political parties are deeply divided over the Syrian revolt, with the Western-backed opposition supporting the uprising and March 8 allies backing Assad.
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