Gunmen Shoot near Hotel, Minutes before Tueni Launches Platform
Suspected gunmen started shooting near a hotel in Ashrafiyeh Tuesday shortly before parliamentary contender Nayla Tueni launched her electoral platform at a gathering being held there. One man was wounded.
The NNA reported the shooting came from a convoy of cars as they passed by Hotel Le Gabriel at 6:45 pm, only fifteen minutes before Tueni”s scheduled appearance.
The wounded man, identified by his last name Abu Shaqra, works in the hotel”s parking lot. Security forces are investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, Tueni dedicated her candidacy to the memory of her father Gebran, who was killed in 2005 in a car explosion.
"I am running for parliament to continue the journey of late MP Gebran Tueni and to realize his dreams and plans," she said.
While she did not believe in political succession, she said "political heritage is passed on naturally, not through parliamentary elections." She said only voters had the power to make her a member of parliament.
The platform was dubbed "Yes and 48 Times Yes" in reference to the number of years Gebran Tueni lived.
The young Tueni said she was prepared to be "held accountable for any mistake she might commit."
She stressed on the need to respect the constitution, for decentralization and for the resistance to fall under the "banner of one weapon on the Lebanese territories."
Tueni also vowed to promote the cause of jailed Lebanese prisoners languishing in Syrian jails and to uncover the fate of those who went missing there. She also called for the right to vote for Lebanese living in exile.