Naharnet

Saniora Says March 14 to Resume Peaceful Protests, Will Liberate Lebanon from Illegitimate Arms

Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora declared that the March 14 camp will not back down from its principles and its struggle to achieve a free, democratic, and independent Lebanon.

He said: “We will liberate Lebanon from the occupation of the illegitimate arms.”

He made his remarks at the end of the funeral of slain former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah.

“They killed Shatah in broad daylight and in cold blood,” he stated.

“The murderer is carrying out his crimes without anyone to stop them and believing that he can escape punishment,” he added.

“The Lebanese people will not surrender and we will not fear the criminals, murderers, and terrorists,” stressed Saniora.

“They instead should be afraid because they are murderers,” he noted.

“They commit murders in order to assert their control over Lebanon, but we will renew our commitment to coexistence and civil peace,” said the former prime minister.

“They continue their killing, while we commit to a free and democratic Lebanon that respects human rights, accepts the peaceful rotation of power, and respects the law and constitution,” he stressed.

“They have become adept at murder and the destruction of people, the economy, and Lebanon's ties with other countries,” continued Saniora.

“We will not be transformed into murderers and we will not destroy Lebanon as they do,” he declared.

“Lebanon will remain an open ground for freedom, dialogue, and reconciliation, not that of strife and fighting,” added the head of the Mustaqbal bloc.

“We will remain committed to the national pact and coexistence. We will reject terrorism, extremism, and violence,” he said.

“We will not back down from the rights of the martyrs no matter how arrogant and deceitful the murderers become,” Saniora stated.

“We will confront the oppression as we demand freedom, justice, and righteousness,” he said.

“We have decided to wage a peaceful, civilized, and democratic resistance,” he added.

“The March 14 forces will meet up with the people soon at the squares of peaceful and democratic struggle,” he revealed.

“We have decided to liberate Lebanon from the occupation of illegitimate arms in order to protect its independence and bolster its sovereignty and civil peace,” he remarked.

“It is time to return to the fold of the nation and state,” he added.

Shatah was assassinated in a car bombing in downtown Beirut on Friday.

Six other people, including his bodyguard Tareq Bader, were also killed in the blast.

Shatah and Bader were laid to rest on Sunday at slain former Premier Rafik Hariri's mausoleum in Beirut.


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