Saniora to Suleiman: No Dialogue with Cabinet that Provides Cover to Murder Suspects
Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader Fouad Saniora told President Michel Suleiman that it would be useless to sit at the dialogue table in the presence of a government that gives cover to the suspects in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination, An Nahar daily reported on Sunday.
“What's the point of (engaging in) dialogue in the presence of a government that covers up suspects in ex-PM Rafik Hariri's murder and the assassination attempt of MP Butros Harb,” An Nahar quoted Saniora as telling Suleiman during a meeting they held at Baabda Palace on Saturday.
Saniora visited Baabda in the aftermath of the March 14 opposition alliance's announcement that it would continue to boycott the national dialogue as long as Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government is in power.
Lebanon plunged in a political crisis in October following the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hasan. March 14 blamed the government for the killing and pointed its finger at Syria.
“The only way out is through the formation of a neutral salvation cabinet that removes tension and overseas the next parliamentary elections,” Saniora reportedly told Suleiman.
“We have repeatedly participated in the (national) dialogue but the other party (March 8 coalition) … rejects commitment,” he said.
Suleiman postponed a new round of all-party talks that were set to be held last Thursday to January 7 after the opposition rejected to take part in the meeting.
An Nahar quoted him as telling Saniora that the Constitution does not give him the authority to change the current government. “It is up to the parliamentary majority” to do so.
Following the meeting, Miqati, who was at the presidential palace, shook hands with Saniora after coming face to face with the head of al-Mustaqbal bloc.
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