Report: FPM Sees Flaws in Agreement to Pay Military Officials' Wages

The Free Patriotic Movement criticized the agreement reached to pay the salaries of military officials, reported the daily An Nahar on Tuesday.

Sources from the movement questioned to the daily how officials resorted to “the same procedure that had been adopted in the past by Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, which the FPM had considered as illegal.”

“Such a procedure is a sign of the collapse of the Lebanese system,” they warned.

“The transfer of the salaries can only be made through a decree signed outside of cabinet, just like the decrees on the promotion of officers,” they explained.

“The FPM will only take part in cabinet sessions aimed at tackling the waste management crisis and the security promotions,” said the sources.

On Monday, a delay in paying the salaries of military officials was resolved through an agreement between Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.

The wages were paid through a memo sent by Salam to Khalil, requesting him to pay the salaries and that he will take responsibility for it.

The memo was issued after the minister had informed him that he would not be able to pay the salaries without the necessary legal backing.

Khalil's sources told An Nahar that he had prepared the decree, while Salam signed it on behalf of the cabinet,

They stressed that this extraordinary measure is legal and it will be presented at cabinet as soon as it convenes.