Opposition Upset by Saniora”s Nomination, Warns of Security Repercussions
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora”s nomination for the Sunni parliamentary seat in Sidon has upset Hizbullah, prompting the group to warn against "security repercussions."
Hizbullah”s mouthpiece Al Manar criticized Saniora and MP Saad Hariri”s Mustaqbal Movement.
"He did it. Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, and those behind him, Mustaqbal Movement, has nominated himself for parliamentary elections in Sidon, the city of political diversity … a diversity Sidon residents hold on to, rejecting Saniora”s move which would only increase his insistence to fight the election battle to protect the identity of their city," Al Manar said on its website.
The daily An Nahar on Wednesday said government sources expressed "great surprise" at Manar”s reaction.
"Are those who call for diversity apply this rule in the south and the Bekaa, or rather exercise monopoly power and demand others to terminate themselves?" one government source asked.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted as saying that Saniora has the right to nominate himself in Sidon.
"It”s his right to run and engage Sidon residents in a democratic game," An Nahar quoted Berri as saying.
As Safir newspaper for its part quoted a source from Jamaa Islamiya as saying that Saniora”s nomination has "turned the equation upside down."
The source said that following Saniora”s nomination, the Islamic Grouping called Hariri in Saudi Arabia and "agreement has been reached such as Jamaa Islamiya would support Saniora”s nomination in Sidon in return for the nomination of its candidate Imad Hout in Beirut Constituency 3."
Education Minister Bahia Hariri visited the Islamic Grouping at its Sidon headquarters Tuesday evening and held talks with Jamaa Islamiya”s politburo chief Ali Sheikh Ammar.
As Safir said the two sides agreed that "contacts should be maintained" between Jamaa Islamiya and Mustaqbal Movement.