Western Officials Contact Lebanese Leaders, Hariri Says People to Peacefully Oust Miqati
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Former prime minister Saad Hariri on Sunday received phone calls from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, who offered him condolences on the assassination of Maj. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan and his bodyguard Ahmed Suhyouni.
“During the phone calls, discussions also tackled the developments which Lebanon is witnessing after the heinous assassination. (Ex-)Premier Hariri stressed that the Lebanese people are staging a civil, democratic movement to overthrow the government of Premier Najib Miqati, adding that March 14 forces will boycott the government until it falls, as it is the product of the Syrian-Iranian axis and is working to achieve the interests and influence of this axis at the expense of the interests and security of Lebanon and its people,” Hariri's office said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri received a phone call from Fabius that tackled the rapid developments in Lebanon.
The French minister also telephoned Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat. The PSP's media department said Fabius stressed during the conversation France's solidarity with Lebanon amid this sensitive period as well as French President Francois Hollande's permanent support for the Lebanese state and all the Lebanese.
Al-Hasan was killed in a powerful car bombing that rocked Ashrafiyeh on Friday and left at least three people dead and more than 100 wounded.
In a televised address later on Sunday, Hariri said: “Our call for the government's departure is not lust for power."
"Toppling the government is the only way towards real dialogue in the country," he noted.
"What we want is to topple the government democratically and peacefully and we are not advocates of violence," Hariri added.
"Today, after the martyrdom of Wissam al-Hasan, we have taken a stance and we won't heed the advices of some countries that are saying that this government is in Lebanon's interest," Hariri stressed.
Asked about reports of his possible return to Lebanon, Hariri said: "I would have liked to be among the Lebanese but I will convey to you an advice from Wissam who told me, "It's not the right time to come back."
"I'm at the heart of the political life and I will return," he added.
21 October 2012, 23:41
15
Tyranny and oppression is the hall mark of the ASSad and Hizbshitan... It is always in the human heart to fight such evil...
21 October 2012, 23:52
15
@enough I agree with you but the fat rat is in Israel planning with Israelis on the next movie to be played ... That drone was flown into Israel and shot down as per Israeli and Hizbshitan movie script... Now they say "Take two let's make it look good so the Muslims fights and kills each other." I might be in the minority opinion but I look at the whole of world events that have take place since 11 years... It just continues to make sense for me.
22 October 2012, 00:14
16
we are Lebanese and we want our country back: what is wrong with that?
anyone supporting the syrian regime and iran are traitors to Lebanon and their fate is sealed especially in our regions. we know e=where each one lives, and when the time will come.....
justice for Lebanon and all the martyrs.
22 October 2012, 03:05
04
I guess Hariri is glad he didn't return. De should wait the Syrian filth is kicked out.
22 October 2012, 07:15
13
I like Hariri, but not as a PM, nor do I like Sanioura... yet I vote Mustaqbal for the program, not for the people.
22 October 2012, 10:16
12
i would like to have an idea as to the logic behind the request for miqati to step down. it just does not make sens... let me get this straight. so the syrian regime assassinates (as much as i personnaly believe it to be true we have no proof whatsoever yet) wissam, and suddenly the goverment has to go ... lets see now, during hariri's rule... how many were assassinated (or attempts)? weren't these government officials and press related humans that were killed ? (Tueni, murr, hawi, etc). all these and more were targeted during hariri's rule ... its a shame we as lebanese use any stupid excuse to just spread havoc. i remember the drama surrounding the sit in Hizbulla organised in front of the serail. with all the crap we can throw hizbulah way... and from what ive seen yesterday, i can hand them one thing; they were far more civilized than the 14th of march public. never has hizbullah attacked its goverments headquarters.
22 October 2012, 10:18
11
its as if the 14th of march movement critizes their oponents, then goes down to the streets and does ten times worse; burning tires, road closing(8th of march were treated of animals when they did the same), long term sit in (didnt they blame hizbullah for the bad economy cos of their sitin in the centre ville), dangerous sectarian incitation, and to top it off, attacking the serial(thats the stupidest move ever cos they are setting a very dangerous precedent) its a shame even foreign goverments (who btw back the 14th of march) see the absurdity of dropping the current goverment, 1 year before the next elections. that kind of request is just out of place at the current time. there are so many more realistic requests that make sens. i would like to see an international investigation into the assasination of wissam. for once the prints and evidences are still fresh and we have a chance to properly find and pin down the bombers.
22 October 2012, 10:18
11
for once the prints and evidences are still fresh and we have a chance to properly find and pin down the bombers. instead we are wasting time blaming each others and acting impulsively. wissam caught michel samaha and saved a lot of lebanese from explosions. i am pretty sure he would have wanted for us to catch his bombers and disable their network. thats what he would have tried to do... dont u think? instead the 14th of march went into a series of foolish moves that are worse than anything hizbbulah ever did. talking about leading by example, they are doing a magnificient job. hmm... lets see.... i dont really know miqati and suleiman, but im sticking with them. they have shown far more wisdom than the 14th of march in all their years of ruling. no wonder foreign governments are starting to realise that.
22 October 2012, 12:13
01
This not the time for political games... it is the time to investigate the assassination and we should unite behind this action..
