Osama Saad slams ‘sectarian duo’ as Saniora says entrusted with 'Hariri legacy'

MP Osama Saad on Sunday launched an unprecedented verbal attack on Hizbullah and the Amal Movement, his former allies in the southern city of Sidon.

“The ‘sectarian duo’ has issued a fatwa aimed at defeating me in Sidon and electoral money is being paid,” Saad said as he voted in Sidon. Saad had distanced himself from the two Shiite parties in the wake of the October 17 uprising which he strongly supported.

Ex-PM Fouad Saniora also cast his vote in Sidon.

“I consider myself one of those entrusted with the legacy of Martyr Rafik Hariri and what I'm doing will eventually contribute to restoring respect for this legacy,” Saniora said while voting.

He is backing an electoral list in Beirut’s second district and several candidates across Lebanon despite a decision by ex-PM Saad Hariri to boycott the polls and withdraw from political life.

Voter turnout was meanwhile high on Sunday morning in Beirut's second district according to TV networks.