Aoun slams Hezbollah over 'treason accusations, threats'

Ex-president Michel Aoun on Monday criticized Hezbollah for launching “treason accusations and threats through newspapers.”

“I did not let them down, neither in the July War, nor in keenness on the resistance nor in the confrontation against Daesh (Islamic State group),” Aoun said in an interview with the journalist Sami Kleib, when asked whether a mending of ties between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement is possible.

“I have not said anything against them. Should my reward be treason accusations and threats through newspapers?” Aoun wondered.

Told that FPM chief Jebran Bassil has escalated his rhetoric in recent months, the ex-president said: “Jebran talks politics and we and (Hezbollah chief) Sayyed (Hassan) Nasrallah have repeatedly agreed that a political dispute does not negate the friendship.”

“Is it reasonable to be accused of treason because we have merely rejected a supposed candidate?” the ex-president added.

Asked how the “problem” can be “overcome,” Aoun said: “We did not start it and democracy stipulates the freedom of choice. The other party must make the first step towards the solution.”

As for his recent meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and whether Damacus is pressing for Suleiman Franjieh’s election, Aoun said: “I did not feel any pressure and we only discussed this issue in a swift manner.”

“The Syrian president has told me more than once that they do not interfere in the presidency and do not want to interfere,” the president added.