Geagea Challenges Opposition

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday challenged the opposition by urging Premier Fouad Saniora”s government to issue a constitutional amendment bill allowing the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president.

 

Geagea, in an interview with Agence France Press, said rumors that circulated since Sunday evening regarding electing Suleiman without a constitutional amendment were a mere “maneuver by Syria to cool off U.S. and French Pressures.”

 

“The best mechanism to confront this blocking is for the government to meet as soon as possible, adopt a constitutional amendment bill and refer it to parliament to facilitate Gen Suleiman”s election,” Geagea said.

 

The Hizbullah-led opposition, which rejects any mechanism to amend the constitution if it passes through the Saniora government, “persists with its conditions, such as (agreeing) on the structure of a new government and major appointments in public posts prior to attending the election session,”

 

“This is totally rejected, illegal and unprecedented in Lebanon. It is tantamount to blackmail and restricts the forthcoming president”s freedom of movement,” Geagea declared.

 

He concluded that “The strategy of Syria and its allies in Lebanon focuses on either controlling the whole authority after having left Lebanon militarily, or blackmail us and maintaining their blocking of state authorities.”