Berri Assigns Aide To Reject Government”s Amendment Bill

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri indirectly rejected a constitutional amendment bill adopted by the majority government to open the door for the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president.

 

Berri”s stand was outlined by MP Ali Hassan Khalil, a member of the speaker”s parliamentary bloc and AMAL Movement.

 

Khalil, reading a statement to reporters at Berri”s residence in Ein al-Tineh, said: “Parliament … would not break constitutional rules by accepting an anti-constitutional move from an illegitimate government.”

 

Addressing the Saniora majority government, Khalil added: “Your bill has no constitutional value.”

 

“What happened today is a media blocking attempt at the orders of Mr. Saniora”s masters. This decision adopted by the illegitimate government is fuel to the fire that some want to start and we would not be lured into it,” Khalil said.

 

“We would not recognize what you have adopted … Parliament would not be a passage to your illegitimacy and would maintain its sessions until consensus is achieved not on just Gen. Suleiman but on the basket of demands,” Khalil concluded.