March 14 leaders: Violence will only create violence
March 14 leaders held a meeting yesterday at Qoreitem to discuss the latest developments in the Lebanese crisis and their reactions to the Arab initiative.
“March 14 leaders express their regret over the campaign targeting Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and the obstruction of all efforts to elect Army Commander General Michel Sleiman as president,” MP Fares Soueid read from a statement.
The statement also said that March 14 leaders are preparing a detailed memorandum that will be submitted to Arab foreign ministers during their Cairo meeting on January 27 to explain their positions on the extended presidential crisis.
“March 14 also condemns the accusations of treason directed against its leader and denounces the recent protests in the name of better living conditions, which are really aimed at creating chaos,” the statement said.
“We are committed to fighting these attempts with legitimate, political measures in order to defend the republic and national peace,” it added.
March 14 leaders expressed their rejection of violence. “Provocation will only lead to the explosion of the situation.”
They also reiterated their support of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir’s role as a national reference.
March 14 leaders also condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and called for Arab and international support for the Palestinian people.
Meenwhile MP Antoine Zahra of the Lebanese Forces said that the majority is betting on the Lebanese army and the Internal Security Forces to open the roads if they are blocked by the opposition.
“The pro-government supporters will not go down to the street to open them like they did on January 23, 2007, when the opposition blocked roads and highways,” he said.
“Yet, if the blockade is prolonged, then we will consider it,” Zahra said.
On the other hand, Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Fatfat noted that the reaction of March 14 supporters during the confrontations with the opposition on January 23 was spontaneous, as pro-government members clashed with the opposition while trying to open the roads that were blocked by March 8 forces.
“We don’t expect people to accept that the same scenario implemented by the opposition last January 23 will be undertaken a second time,” Fatfat added.