Bassil Accuses Hariri of Trying to Form a Cabinet by Means of Blackmail, Pressure
Telecoms Minister Jebran Bassil accused Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri of trying to form a Cabinet "by means of blackmail and pressure."
Hariri is "is practicing pressure in an attempt to impose terms of surrender and succumb to sectarian violence," Bassil said in remarks published by the daily As-Safir on Monday.
He spoke to As-Safir following a meeting in Center House with Hariri.
Bassil left the talks late Sunday without making any comment.
"This means that he (Hariri) wants to form a government by means of pressure and blackmail all the way to threats of civil war," Bassil said.
He said Hariri is operating within a "specific equation — either you accept his terms, or woe and destruction would prevail."
Asked what he meant by Hariri threats of civil war, Bassil said: "Didn”t you hear remarks by Mufti Jouzou?"
Bassil said that unless Hariri denounces Jouzou”s statement, then this is an indication that the premier-designate "wants things to aggravate to the extent of threatening of civil war."