Aoun Supports Gen. Suleiman”s Nomination Conditional to His Initiative

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Thursday declared vague support for the nomination of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman for president.

 

“What is important today is our stand that supports the nomination and election of Gen. Suleiman. God willing they will not be shocked by our stand,” Aoun told reporters.

 

“We deal seriously with the nomination of commander Michel Suleiman and, with time, we”ll find out how honest their stands are,” Aoun added.

 

Aoun stressed that “there is no objection to the nomination of Gen. Suleiman. However, there are constitutional obstacles that should be surpassed because the government is illegitimate. Details cannot be tackled in public.”

“We hope to overcome the constitutional obstacles and we are ready to overcome them,” he added.

 

However, in answering questions, Aoun said: “We hope that Gen. Suleiman would be president in line with the initiative that we had proposed.”

 

He did not elaborate on the remark, but said he would call for a meeting by the Hizbullah-led opposition to adopt a decision on the issue.

 

Aoun”s initiative had called for an interim president for a term of less than two years pending general elections in the summer of 2009 in line with a new election lat.

 

It also had called for the naming of a “consensus” prime minister.

 

Aoun said popular protests would start by “next weekend.”