Geagea: Syria Seeking to Cripple Government in a Bid to Block Hariri Tribunal

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Syria of hindering presidential elections in Lebanon and seeking to cripple Prime Minister Fouad Saniora”s government in a bid to block the international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes.

 

“Syria”s policy towards Lebanon is targeting the international tribunal,” Geagea said in an interview with Al Arabiya television late Thursday.

 

“The tribunal is no bargain,” he stressed.

 

“The international tribunal would not just reveal the perpetrators of Premier Hariri”s assassination, but also all the crimes committed during the past 30 years,” Geagea said.

 

He said Syria has tried to broker a settlement concerning the Special Tribunal for Lebanon but “failed.”

Geagea denied that the Lebanese Forces was arming men, but claimed that Hizbullah has provided Gen. Michel Aoun”s Free Patriotic Movement and former cabinet minister Wiam Wahhab”s “group” with “some weapons.”

 

Geagea ruled out a confrontation between Hizbullah and MP Saad Hariri”s Mustaqbal movement, given that both parties “reject this.”

 

He said “none” of the factions making up the majority March 14 coalition “has taken the decision to arm itself.”

 

On the bomb threat against the Kuwaiti embassy in Beirut earlier Thursday, Geagea said the mission was threatened “because of its government”s financial contribution” to the Hariri tribunal.

 

Geagea said a parliament session scheduled for Feb. 26 to elect a president for Lebanon was unlikely to take place.

 

“The opposition doesn”t want to elect a president under any circumstances,” he said, adding that electing a head of state by simple majority remains an option if efforts by the Arab League failed.

 

He said another option was expanding the Saniora government until a settlement is reached.