Despite a call by the army command to avoid classifying generals along political allegiances, the newspaper al-Liwaa reported Thursday that some officers have released an alleged statement rejecting the nomination of military intelligence director Brig. Gen. George Khoury to the post of army commander.
The report, which was not attributed to any source, claimed the group identified itself as "comrades of Gen. Francois al Hajj," the former chief of military operations who was assassinated by a powerful bomb blast targeting his car in suburban Baabda east of Beirut last December.
Press reports agreed that a cabinet meeting scheduled for later in the day Thursday would not result in appointing a new army commander to succeed President Michel Suleiman who had held the post before his election to the nation”s top seat.
Cabinet minister Wael Abu Faour said "consensus" among the various leaders has not been achieved on the new army commander.