Saniora Meets Foreign Ambassadors: We extend our Hand to Suleiman to Form a New Cabinet
Head of the opposition al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Foaud Saniora said Thursday that members of the cabinet call for adopting a policy of dissociation but do the contrary.
Saniora's comments came in a press conference he held after meeting with Arab and foreign ambassadors to Lebanon where he informed them of the opposition’s “adamant” stance to oust Premier Najib Miqati's cabinet.
“Stability cannot be achieved under this cabinet which dragged Lebanon to a security, economic and financial crisis,” Saniora said.
The opposition is holding onto its position and insists on toppling Miqati's government in light of Friday's assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan, in addition to other assassination attempts targeting March 14 officials, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and MP Butros Harb, the daily An Nahar said Thursday.
Saniora made it clear to the ambassadors that the cabinet pushed the country to an almost unstable economic situation, threatening Lebanon's economic growth and well-being, reports said.
Moreover he said: “We extend our hand to Suleiman to hold consultations in order to form a new cabinet, that trims down tension in the country.”
“It is against the constitution to say that the cabinet cannot step down before an agreement on a new one is reached,” he stressed in reference to Speaker Nabih Berri's statement Wednesday.
The MP assured that the March 14 alliance is united.
For its part the March 14 General Secretariat reiterated on Wednesday demands to overthrow the government, saying: “The resignation of the cabinet is a key condition to any efforts exerted to foil threats surrounding the country and maintaining stability.”
It held Miqati and his cabinet responsible for “facilitating (Syrian President Bashar) Assad's regime criminal plot” in Lebanon.
The government is comprised of mainly pro-Syrian forces and the opposition has accused the Syrian regime of being behind various assassinations in Lebanon.
The Mustaqbal bloc on Tuesday called for forming "a neutral salvation government comprising members from outside the March 14 and March 8 camps," while announcing that it will boycott any national dialogue session or parliamentary meetings that involve the participation of the government.
Friday's bombing has raised fears about unrest in the country, which is divided between supporters and opponents of Assad, whose country supervised its small neighbor for nearly 30 years.
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