Mouawad Demands End of Christian Cover for Hizbullah Arms
Independence Movement leader Michel Mouawad demanded Saturday an end to Christian cover for Hizbullah arms.
Mouawad”s plea came during a ceremony to mark the 19th anniversary of the assassination of his father, the late President Rene Mouawad.
"Lebanon”s future lies in the hands of you, Christians," Mouawad told the crowd who attended a mass at Rene Mouawad Institute in Mejdlaya, Zghorta in northern Lebanon.
"Lift the Christian (political) cover off Hizbullah weapons," he demanded.
On the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Mouawad accused "those trying to defend or cover up the four arrested generals are certainly accomplice in crime."
He was referring to Jamil Sayyed, Ali Hajj, Raymond Azar and Mustafa Hamdan who respectively headed the General Security Department, the Internal Security Forces, Military Intelligence and the Presidential Guards Brigade.
Turning to March 8 Forces, Mouawad said: "Let them tell us how can protecting a political crime, non-demarcation of the border, turning the borders into passages for smuggling arms and weakening the Lebanese army protect Lebanon."
"Let them tell us where does the Resistance end and where does the militia start," he added in reference to Hizbullah.
"Defending our territories requires a defense strategy based on the Taef accord, the Doha agreement and U.N. resolutions, particularly 1701," Mouawad argued, adding that Lebanon”s "real protection" demands an immediate call on everybody to return to the legitimate authority.
Addressing his fellow Zghorta citizens, he said: "It”s time for change, but change does not mean coup."
Turning to March 14 Forces public, Mouawad concluded his speech by vowing to "continue our battle, together peacefully and democratically, to revive Lebanon."
Among those who attended the ceremony were political and military personalities as well as representatives of President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and Speaker Nabih Berri.