Mufti Qabbani calls for immediate election of Sleiman

 

Grand Mufti Muhammad Rashid Qabbani described Prime Minsiter Fouad Siniora’s recent regional tour as the “official representation of Lebanon at a time when Lebanon is at a crossroads in its political future.”

 

He also requested the immediate election of Army Commander General Michel Sleiman as a president by consensus as the starting point for inter-Lebanese dialogue.

 

Prior to the April 13 commemoration of the civil war which ravaged the country for almost 3 decades, Qabbani underlined national unity as a guarantee of categorical Lebanese rejection of civil war.

 

He called on the Lebanese to take advantage of Arab support, particularly Saudi Arabian and Egyptian support, to solve the political deadlock in Lebanon, which has left the country without president since Emile Lahoud stepped down in November, paralyzed the parliament, and launched debates over the legitimacy of the cabinet.

 

The Grand Mufti reiterated his commitment to the Arab initiative, taken up by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon, as a safe means to a stable solution.