Raad Accuses Saudi of Obstructing Presidential Vote, Ties to Bombings

Hizbullah's top lawmaker MP Mohammed Raad on Friday accused Saudi Arabia of “obstructing the presidential vote” in Lebanon and of being involved in the deadly bomb attacks that rocked several Lebanese regions in recent years.

“Some are criticizing us for raising the voice in the face of the Saudi regime, which has not left any door open for reconciliation, after it obstructed the presidential vote in our country through vetoing the choice of the Lebanese,” Raad added, reiterating the Hizbullah allegation that Riyadh had vetoed the election of Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun as president.

Change and Reform and Hizbullah, who have been boycotting the electoral sessions, argue that Aoun is the candidate most eligible to become president given the size of his parliamentary bloc and his strong influence in the Christian community.

The rival March 14 camp meanwhile accuses the two parties of obstructing the presidential election through their boycott of electoral sessions.

Separately, Raad echoed Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's remarks that Saudi Arabia had played a role in the bombings that targeted Lebanese regions in recent years.

He said those who staged the bomb attacks “received phone calls from numbers in the Saudi kingdom.”

“This regime has also sent car bombs and explosive devices to target civilians and pilgrims in Iraq through its army of takfiri terrorists,” Raad charged.

“They have also destroyed and weakened Syria and divided its people … We are not launching false accusations against anyone and we are not attacking anyone, but it is our right to tell the truth to people,” the MP added.

His remarks come amid unprecedented tensions between Hizbullah and Saudi Arabia, which has launched a series of measures against both Lebanon and the Iran-backed party.

The Saudi measures started on February 19 when the Saudi foreign ministry announced that the kingdom was halting around $4 billion in military aid to the Lebanese army and security forces. The kingdom later slapped sanctions on individuals and firms accused of ties to Hizbullah and advised its citizens against travel to Lebanon while urging those already in the country to leave it.

Saudi Arabia has also pushed the Gulf Cooperation Council and the council of Arab interior ministers to describe Hizbullah as a “terrorist” organization.

Saudi Arabia has linked its measures to Lebanon's refusal to join the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in condemning attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran last month, and alleged Hizbullah "terrorist acts against Arab and Muslim nations."

The Saudi-backed GCC resolution also accused Hizbullah of "terrorist acts and incitement in Syria, Yemen and in Iraq."

Y.R.