Opposition to Raise Complaints about March 14 Forces before the Interior Minister
The Lebanese opposition, which has met under Gen. Michel Aoun, has decided to raise a list of complaints about the conduct of the ruling March 14 coalition before Interior Minister Ziad Baroud.
The daily As Safir on Tuesday said the meeting was attended, in addition to lawmakers from Aoun”s Change and Reform bloc, by MPs from the two major opposition parliamentary blocs — Speaker Nabih Berri”s Liberation and Development and Hizbullah”s Loyalty to the Resistance.
It said the MPs, who met at Aoun”s residence in Rabiyeh on Monday, discussed issues related to the June 7 elections.
As Safir said the conferees raised a number of issues, including the travel abroad of mayors with the purpose of taking the fingerprints of Lebanese expatriates who support March 14 forces and reserving the air fleet for the ruling majority, meaning that Lebanon”s national carrier – Middle East Airlines – is biased.
The daily said an agreement was reached at the end of the meeting to set up a joint committee that would visit Baroud to review the complaints.
As Safir quoted sources in Berri”s bloc as saying that the meeting also discussed the general rules that must prevail over the election process.
A source in the Hizbullah bloc, however, denied that the meeting was held for election or political purposes, adding that similar sessions would take place between the three opposition blocs to follow-up on issues related to implementation of electoral laws.
Political sources, meanwhile, described as "a basket full of obstacles" the list of complaints to be presented to Baroud, who in turn will refer it to Cabinet.
Al Liwa said the meeting has "divided the opposition into two opposing camps" – a "parliamentary opposition" comprising of the three blocs (Aoun, Berri and Hizbullah) and a "party opposition" consisting of the other political groups that make up the March 8 coalition.
It quoted leaders in the Lebanese opposition as expressing resentment toward the meeting.