Saniora Assails Hezbollah, Army & Doesn't Resign

Saniora Assails Hezbollah, Army & Doesn't Resign

Readers Number : 0

10/05/2008 Instead of taking material decisions that could facilitate a solution for the ongoing Lebanese crisis such as declaring resignation, the head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora decided that the best way to handle the situation was by launching a verbal assault on Hezbollah and the army. In a press conference, Saniora denied that his cabinet had declared war on Hezbollah, accusing the Lebanese party of declaring such war and launching it "with the aim of altering the balance of power domestically, regionally and internationally." "Our problem with Hezbollah is that they decided to monopolize the decision of when and where to go to war, and that whoever disagrees with them is a criminal and a traitor," Saniora claimed, adding that "the core problem is that they decided to force their beliefs on the Lebanese without concern for the Lebanese and their will," Saniora said. "Hezbollah's weapons can no longer be considered legitimate…We wont be terrorized by the power of these weapons," he added. Saniora vowed the country "would not fall under the coup," saying that Hezbollah arms "would not terrorize us and would not force us to back off even if the party used its weapons more than before." He showed insistence on his cabinet's latest unfair decisions, saying that if Hezbollah wanted to use its telecommunication network, it should be placed under state control. Saniora also assailed the Lebanese army saying "they haven't done their job yet." He requested the army to fulfill their role in protecting the Lebanese to the fullest and without delay, calling them to withdraw all arms from the streets and end the sit-in in Down Town Beirut. Such action, if taken, would divide the army and further complicate the situation in the country, experts say. Saniora presented a five-point proposal he wished would introduce a solution to the conflict. But, when he announced it, it was a replica of Future Movement MP Saad Hariri's two days ago. Saniora called for the immediate election of Army Commander General Michel Suleiman as president and holding dialogue under the "chairmanship of a neutral figure" (which the ruling bloc says is Gen. Suleiman).