Mashnouq Says Elections 'Soon', Urges Aoun to Address Hizbullah Arms

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq has reassured that the parliamentary elections will be held “soon,” as he urged President Michel Aoun to address the controversial issue of Hizbullah's weapons.

In an interview with Egypt's CBC Extra News channel, Mashnouq revealed that he will conduct consultations with the president, the parliament speaker and the prime minister in order to “take a decision about the date of the upcoming parliamentary polls.”

He also confirmed that “there will be elections, even if not on time,” adding that the polls will be held “soon.”

Turning to the issue of Hizbullah's controversial arsenal of weapons, Mashnouq called on Aoun to sponsor dialogue aimed at reaching “an understanding on a defense strategy that specifies the means to benefit from Hizbullah's arms in the face of any Israeli aggression.”