Report: Aoun Calls for Meeting in Rabieh, Protests 'Marginalizing Christians'

MP Michel Aoun has called on ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement and officials for a meeting in Rabieh to discuss the procedures to escalate measures in protest to what he describes as “marginalizing the role of Christians,” An Nahar daily reported on Saturday.

Aoun has called for a meeting to “discuss the situation in the government”, said the daily “mainly after Thursday's cabinet session” that approved a decree to export agricultural and industrial products by sea despite the FPM, Hizbullah and Tashnag Party ministers insistence that no issue should be discussed until appointments of high-ranking officials were made.

Aoun wants his son-in-law Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz to be appointed army chief.

Quoting Aoun's sources, An Nahar said that the meeting aims to “urge the Lebanese in general and the Christians in particular to take action when needed.

“The step rejects infringing on the post and jurisdictions of the presidency, similar to what happened during Thursday’s session. The escalation will be taken to the street, and ministers of the FPM will not resign,” the sources said.

Aoun had said that some parties are working to eliminate him and trying to put obstacles to the participation of Christians in political decision-making.