Saniora is 'Red Line', Says Daryan from Grand Serail
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, Lebanon's most senior Sunni Muslim cleric, on Monday threw his support behind ex-PM Fouad Saniora in the face of corruption accusations.
Daryan voiced his remarks after talks at the Grand Serail with Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
“The issue of fighting corruption is important and necessary, as long as we are seeking to establish a just and strong state, but this issue must be addressed within state institutions, because there are inspection and accountability bodies that should perform their job,” Daryan told reporters after the meeting.
“Whereas overbidding over this issue or resorting to political campaigns over this file or another file are rejected. On this very issue I voice a clear message: ex-PM Fouad Saniora is a red line, because he is a statesman par excellence who has restored the transparency and credibility of the state's funds,” the mufti added.
Referring to Saniora's latest press conference, Daryan said the former premier refuted “all accusations and lies” and was “very successful” in doing so.
“Ex-PM Fouad Saniora is a major value and figure in whom we pride ourselves and we will defend him against any unjust accusation,” the mufti went on to say.
On Friday, Saniora described the issue of the “missing” $11 billion as a “farce,” as he announced that those “setting up mini-states inside the state” are the real corrupts, in an apparent jab at Hizbullah.
At a press conference he held to respond to remarks by MP Hassan Fadlallah, Saniora added that the 11 billion dollars in question were spent on interest hikes, treasury loans for Electricite Du Liban, and wage hikes and recruitment expenses for the armed forces.
Source: Naharnet
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