A fiery statement by Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad has caused uproar among the ruling March 14 coalition.
Raad on Sunday warned March 14 against attempting to "abolish the resistance”s right to exit" in the forthcoming policy statement, saying "this is tantamount to declaring war."
He accused March 14 cabinet ministers of "obstructing the decision-making by trying to strip the resistance of its weapons."
Raad also accused the alliance of succumbing to foreign powers.
Addressing the ruling majority team, Raad said: "You are singing out of the tune of the President”s stances and out of the tune of the majority of the Lebanese people”s stand."
Minister of State Nassib Lahoud, member of the ministerial committee tasked with drafting the new cabinet policy statement, hit back at Raad, saying his remarks are "totally unacceptable."
"No way could I work in a committee that is subject to this kind of speeches that could be interpreted by many as threats against the committee," Lahoud said.
Lahoud, speaking to reporters during a break in the committee”s ninth meeting on Sunday, said he hoped Raad would issue a statement clarifying his declaration.
Information Minister Tareq Mitri also struck back at Raad, saying his statement was "way beyond reality."
"The best way to facilitate agreement (on the policy statement) is to refrain from the use of threatening and thorny language," Mitri said.