Lebanese Option Withdrew Candidate from Race in Baalbeck-Hermel
The Lebanese Option Gathering candidate withdrew from the electoral race in Baalbeck-Hermel to "avoid" running against the Hizbullah-Amal list with two Shiite opposition tickets, the group”s leader Ahmed al-Assaad said Tuesday.
"Ever since we started forming our list in Baalbeck-Hermel, some of our allies worked with all their might toward creating a second ticket," Assaad said at a press conference.
"Due to the political reality in Baalbeck-Hermel, such actions only serve to weaken the Lebanese Option," he added.
He said the gathering "preferred to withdraw" from the race after it failed to reach an understanding on the second ticket.
"It is not right for the Shiite opposition in Baalbeck-Hermel to have two lists," competing against Hizbullah and Amal movement in the district, he explained.
Assaad reassured his supporters that Tuesday”s announcement did not mean the gathering "will withdraw from politics altogether in the region."
"After the elections, we will continue with greater force," he said.
Separately, he said Hizbullah allegedly stopped media coverage of an attack against one of the gathering”s members in Harouf-Nabatiyeh two days ago.
He said assailants burned a bus owned by the activist to transport kids to school. He also said that attackers threw "Molotov Cocktails" at the gathering”s office in Tayouneh, facing the police station.
Assaad called on general prosecutor Said Mirza to "personally intervene to order the reopening of cases in Taybeh, Khiyam and
Bint Jbeil" where the gathering had been a target of attacks. He said the files contained the names of the assailants.
He also urged the defense and interior ministers to provide protection for the group”s offices in the south.