Report: Aoun Vetoes Appointment of Three Members of Military Council

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun has reportedly rejected the appointment of three members of the Military Council, an article that was set to be discussed during a cabinet session on Friday, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

It said that his veto of the appointment of the members is part if his opposition to the extension of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji's term.

As Safir said that Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil had informed President Michel Suleiman of the lawmaker's position during Friday's session, prompting the article to be withdrawn from discussion.

He told the president that priority should be placed to appointing a replacement to Qahwaji, “whose term was initially illegally extended.”

Aoun had relayed this stance to Suleiman in the past, reportedly suggesting that Qahwaji's replacement be appointed before the president's term ends on May 25, said As Safir.

He had also proposed the appointment of General Shamel Roukoz, the head of the Army Commando Unit and his son-in-law, to the position, added the daily.

Cabinet was expected to appoint Brigadier Generals Abdul Karim Younes, Ghassan Salem, and Salim al-Haddad to the Military Council.

The current council is comprised of Qahwaji, Chief of Staff Walid Salman, and General Secretary of the Higher Defense Council Major General Mohammed Kheir.

The vacancies in the Military Council have existed for over a year following the retirement of Michel Mnayyar, Nicolas Mezher, and Abdul Rahman al-Shehaitli.

M.T.

D.A.