Report: Hariri Urges Mustaqbal Leadership to 'Avoid Escalation' with LF

Efforts are underway among the Mustaqbal Movement to avert a deterioration of ties with the Lebanese Forces, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah on Sunday.

It said that head of the Movement MP Saad Hariri urged Mustaqbal officials against “escalating” tensions with the LF.

He issued a memo urging calm “in order to preserve the unity of the March 14 coalition.”

He demanded that disputes with the LF “remain limited to their normal borders” and they “shouldn't be blown out of proportion.”

Circles close to Hariri told al-Seyassah that there are no differences between the Musatqbal Movement and LF over “the strategy of the Cedar Revolution”, revealing that contacts are underway to calm tensions between the two sides.

LF chief Samir Geagea had issued a similar warning to his supporters earlier this year amid tensions between the Mustaqbal and LF over the presidential elections.

The Movement will soon hold an expanded meeting of its leaders to assess the recent municipal polls, most notably the results in the northern city of Tripoli, the circles told al-Seyassah.

Last week, resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi marked a resounding victory in municipal elections in the northern city of Tripoli. A list he endorsed was running against one backed by Hariri, former Premier Najib Miqati, and former Minister Mohammed al-Safadi and Faisal Karami. Two other lists were running in the elections.

Differences emerged between Hariri and Rifi in wake of the former's nomination of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president late in 2015.

The gap widened when the MP failed to endorse Rifi's resignation from cabinet earlier this year.

He stepped down from his post in protest against “the power Hizbullah wields over the government and its decision-making.”