Jumblat Accuses March 14 of Taking Lebanon into ‘War of Civilizations’

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat accused the March 14 forces of taking the country into a “war of civilizations,” saying that President Michel Suleiman isn’t an ally when it comes to government formation or parliamentary elections.

In remarks to al-Akhbar daily, Jumblat described his relations with the March 8 forces, including Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, as based on an alliance.

With this new stance, the Druze leader has moved himself away from centrism.

“The delay in government formation has put Hizbullah, MP Suleiman Franjieh, MP Michel Aoun and the National Struggle Front in big trouble,” Jumblat said, stressing on the importance of the quick formation of the cabinet.

Jumblat has announced that the PSP will not take part in Sunday’s March 14 rally “as we can only remain in a position that would protect the peace and Lebanon’s unity.”

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “The party has never prevented the citizens from expressing their opinions but it knows that the people are responsible enough to refuse to participate in an occasion where speeches will be aimed at inciting strife, hatred, and sectarianism.”