Jumblat For Compromise that Prevents Factional Violence
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has said he accepts a compromise with the Hizbullah-led opposition to prevent factional clashes in Lebanon.
"This is not a humiliating compromise," Jumblat told a press conference in Clemenceau Saturday. "We prevented inter-factional clashes in Beirut and in the mountains and we would prevent them in Lebanon," he said.
He noted that the army command would decide on the issues of airport security commander Brig Wafiq Shoqeir and Hizbullah”s communications network after carrying out investigation in both issues.
Jumblat denied a charge by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, stating "I am not the premier."
Jumblat said in coordination with Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri and Premier Fouad Saniora "we asked the Army command to give us the answers regarding the two government decisions."
The Druze leader declared support for whatever the government decides on the two controversial decisions.
He expressed hope that "one day the decision to go to war or peace would be held by the state only."
Jumblat denounced "the massacre committed against mourners in Tarik Jedideh earlier in the day but called for self restraint."
He said recent developments proved that March 14 does not have militias.
Jumblat said we have avoided inter-factional dispute in Beirut, and we want to avoid it in the mountain and in the north.
The army is in charge of security everywhere, Jumblat said.
We don”t want tensions, He declared.
What happened in Beirut and the mountain, according to Jumblat, should be a lesson that only the state should be responsible for security.
Jumblat said inter-factional clashes are not in the interest of any faction.
He admitted there had been "an unfortunate incident" in the predominantly Druze and Christian town of Aley, east of Beirut, saying: "Three people were killed. Two bodies were found and turned over to the army."
Hizbullah blamed Jumblat for the death of at least two of its members.
The Druze leader did not expressly admit his supporters were responsible, but said if unconfirmed reports that the victims had been tortured proved true he would "personally take responsibility for it."