Berri Ready to Ally Himself with Mustaqbal in Beirut 2 District
In an unexpected move, al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri visited Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh Friday night to discuss formation of a list in Beirut 2 district.
Berri had told An Nahar newspaper ahead of the meeting that he was ready to enter in a bilateral alliance with the movement in Beirut 2 to implement the Doha agreement.
Hariri”s visit to Berri came after he met with Hajj Hussein Khalil as part of efforts to settle the issue of Beirut 2 after it was not possible to give Nuhad Mashnouq and Hani Qobeisi uncontested wins as a result of former MP Adnan Araqji”s insistence to run in the elections against Mustaqbal candidate Mashnouq.
As Safir newspaper said the list that includes Mashnouq and Qobeisi is expected to be announced next week. The announcement will come amid formation of a coordination bureau between al-Mustaqbal and Berri”s Amal movement.
As for Hariri”s Beirut 3 ticket, its announcement is awaiting the final touches on the negotiations with Jamaa Islamiya to include its candidate Imad Hout in the list.
As Safir quoted Hariri as telling his visitors that he will not abandon Jamaa Islamiya unless it does so first.
A meeting will be held between Hariri and former MP Asaad Harmoush from the Jamaa leadership on Saturday, according to al-Liwaa newspaper.
It quoted a source from the grouping as saying that Jamaa was not ready to enter into an alliance with MP Ousama Saad in Sidon even if there was no agreement with al-Mustaqbal.