Jumblat: I Advise Nasrallah to Withdraw from Syria as Demise of Regime is near
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat noted on Wednesday the Syrian rebels' breakthrough in taking over the strategic Minnigh airport in Aleppo, saying that changes on the ground are beginning to take place in the conflict, reported Egypt's Asharq al-Awsat news agency.
He told the agency: “I advise Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to withdraw from Syria because the countdown for the demise of the regime has begun.”
“The countdown has started because it is impossible for the regime to continue on oppressing the Syrian people,” he remarked.
On Tuesday, rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad captured Minnigh key air base in the northern province of Aleppo after a months-long battle.
They have been fighting loyalists for the air base for some eight months, as part of a battle in Aleppo province to stop the regime from using warplanes to strike areas in opposition hands.
Commenting on efforts to form a new government in Lebanon, Jumblat said: “I will study the available options, including a neutral de facto cabinet, should a neutral technocratic one be rejected.”
“I do not want to take the risk in advocating a de facto government as I was among the first to demand the establishment of a national unity cabinet that Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam had described as one of national reconciliation,” added the MP.
He also voiced his support for the establishment of a government that does not include party figures.
On disarming Hizbullah, he said: “Nasrallah could not lay down the party's weapons even if he wanted to because this decision is in the hands of Iran.”
“The Lebanese people however want stability … so let the national dialogue address disputes and let a technocratic cabinet resolve them,” Jumblat declared.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati resigned in March and Salam was appointed to form a new government amid conflicting positions between the political powers.
The March 14 alliance is demanding forming an impartial cabinet, the March 8 forces is insisting on forming a political one, and Jumblat objects to a cabinet that does not represent all Lebanese factions.
Salam has demanded the formation of a cabinet of national reconciliation.
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