Aoun Warns against Extension of Security Officers Terms

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun rejected outright the extension of the terms of security officers, calling on the appointment of new generals to lead the army and the Internal Security Forces.

“Any further extension of their terms is a clear violation of the law,” Aoun told As Safir newspaper in an interview published on Monday.

“According to norms, two officers should be appointed in the army and ISF leaderships when the term of those leading them expires,” he said.

Aoun denied last week that he had proposed his son-in-law Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz to be appointed army chief.

Roukoz's tenure ends in October 2015 while the term of army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.

ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous is set to retire in June.

In his remarks to As Safir, Aoun stressed that the decision to extend the terms of top security officers was not solely the jurisdiction of the defense and interior ministers.

“This is an issue that concerns the government, which is the only party entitled to extend or not,” the lawmaker said.

He warned to “confront any attempt to impose the extension” on the rest of the factions.

“As long as we are in the cabinet, the irregular will not become a rule,” Aoun said.

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