Hariri Suspends Cabinet Line-Up Talks as Security Breeches Threaten to Slow Cabinet Formation
Al Mustaqbal Movement chief and parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri announced he was suspending his participation in talks aimed at forming a new cabinet to protest slack security in Beirut in the wake of repeated security breeches, and urged Arab intervention.
Hariri, in remarks published by the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat on Thursday, called on the Arab ministerial committee to "dispatch an Arab envoy immediately to investigate the facts in Beirut to guarantee implementation of the security part of the Doha agreement."
"Does this atmosphere help solve the problems facing the cabinet make-up?" Hariri asked.
"Persistent attacks and provocations only complicate matters instead of turning a new page and putting the black days behind us," Hariri stressed.
Hariri on Wednesday informed his decision to suspend al Mustaqbal”s participation in negotiations on forming a new cabinet to President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora, who in turn relayed the decision to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Berri telephoned Hariri after receiving the message in an effort to reassure him that the Beirut security situation would improve.
Mustaqbal sources told Naharnet Hariri”s decision was based on the attempt to assassinate Beirut citizen Imad Zaghloul on Tuesday by assailants in police uniforms.
Hariri said the attack on Zaghloul, who was seriously wounded and remains in intensive care, is a violation of the Doha Accord that guarantees Beirut security.
Zaghloul”s father, Mohammed, said in a television interview that members of Parliament police opened fire at his son. He identified by name two officers of the Parliament police allegedly involved in the attempt on his son”s life.
Mohammed Zaghloul also claimed that he has been receiving death threats from Parliament police officers.
Security sources said four gunmen shot and wounded Zaghloul near the Kuwaiti embassy in Beirut”s Bir Hassan district late Tuesday.
Zaghloul was admitted to the nearby Rafik Hariri hospital.
The sources said two men in civilian clothes and another two wearing Parliament police uniforms and driving a black X5 BMW approached Zaghloul and opened fire on him, wounding him in several parts of his body.
Zaghloul was identified as a supporter of MP Saad Hariri”s Mustaqbal movement.
Police found that the car plates belonged to Lama N.J., wife of Mohammed B., residents of the Shiyah neighborhood.