March 14 Warns to Torpedo National Dialogue in January if Miqati Stays in Power

March 14 opposition officials warned on Thursday that the coalition will continue to boycott the national dialogue as long as Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government is still in power.

A high-ranking al-Mustaqbal movement official told As Safir newspaper that the opposition's stance hasn't changed.

“We hold onto the resignation of PM Najib Miqati's cabinet as a mandatory solution to renege on the decision to boycott the dialogue,” the source said.

“If the government doesn't resign by January 7, then the March 14 forces will naturally not participate in the next dialogue session and will hold onto its total boycott,” the source told As Safir.

“Let the other team (March 8 alliance) assume responsibility for the paralysis of political life in the country over its steadfastness to hold onto the cabinet and insistence to monopolize power,” the official said.

President Michel Suleiman postponed a national dialogue session that was set to be held on Thursday to January 7 over the insistence of the March 14 opposition to boycott the all-party talks and all parliamentary activity.

Lebanon plunged in a political crisis last month after the opposition blamed the government for the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch chief Wissam al-Hasan, and called for its resignation.

An Nahar daily said Thursday that Suleiman's decision to postpone the national dialogue came following telephone conversations held between his top aides and al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora, who reiterated that the March 14 alliance's demand for the resignation of the cabinet hasn't changed.

Sources close to Saniora told the newspaper that the opposition's boycott of the all-party talks is not directed at Suleiman, who is highly respected.

The lawmaker has already informed the president that the opposition has set the precondition of the government’s resignation and the formation of a new cabinet to oversee the 2013 parliamentary elections for the end of its boycott, the sources said.