Hizbullah hampering alliances in Kesrouan, Jbeil
The March 14 Forces said Wednesday Hizbullah was exerting pressure in Kesrouan and Jbeil to hamper an alliance between the March 14 Forces and independent candidates.
The March 14 Forces secretariat general held a meeting in Beirut to discuss the latest developments related to the upcoming parliamentary polls.
In comments to reporters following the meeting, former MP Fares Soueid said discussions mainly focused on "pressures exerted by Hizbullah to obstruct any alliance between the March 14 Forces and independent candidates in the districts of Jbeil and Kesrouan."
Asked when the Jbeil and Kesrouan lists would be announced, Soueid said: "Obstacles are not resulting from the residents of Kesrouan or Jbeil."
He added that the overwhelming majority of voters in the two districts were of the Maronite confession. "Hence, we believe Hizbullah does not have a chance to impose its will in these areas," Soueid said.
Asked about a possible alliance between him and former MP Nazem Khoury in Jbeil, Soueid said the March 14 Forces did not close its list in that district, adding that Hizbullah was rejecting such an alliance.
Commenting on Hizbullah MP Mohammad Raad”s earlier statements that Lebanon must be on high alert in anticipation of Israel”s military maneuver at the end of May, Soueid said: "They are trying to raise fears of an Israeli attack."
"Such maneuvers were conducted in 2007 and 2008 and this will be the third maneuver," Soueid said, adding that Lebanon”s security would come from the Lebanese government and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Wednesday the final touches had been made on the March 14 Forces” list in the northern district of Koura.
Regarding the polls in Kesrouan, Geagea said "further negotiations were needed to reach the best solution." He added that he could understand Hizbullah using its power in the Baalbek-Hermel district or in Nabatieh, but said it was unacceptable for it to isolate Soueid in Jbeil.
Following a meeting with Deputy Speaker Farid Makari and MP Farid Habib, Geagea said the Israeli military maneuver scheduled for the end of May did not endanger Lebanon.
In other developments, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt met on Wednesday with US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Sison.
Also on Wednesday, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun met with French Ambassador Andre Parant.
Orthodox candidate in Beirut”s first district Nayla Tueni said Wednesday that the March 14 Forces” Beirut 1 list would be announced within few days. In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio station, Tueni said a complete list of five candidates would be announced before Sunday.