Lebanese MPs quoted Speaker Nabih Berri as saying during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at the parliament building on Wednesday that March 14 was frustrated over the collapse of Caretaker PM Saad Hariri’s cabinet and was striving for power not justice in former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination case.
Free Lebanon radio said Berri stressed to lawmakers that the new cabinet would not be formed before the March 13 rally at Martyrs Square. However, he said there is no need to procrastinate after that date.
Berri who is a key ally of Hezbollah said the campaign by March 14 alliance against Hezbollah contradicts with National principles
Hariri vowed last week to fight the use of non-state weapons “peacefully and democratically”, for being pointed against the Lebanese citizens . In reference to Hezbollah’s use of the arms internally since 2006 for securing political advantages.
Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s imminent indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 .
Nagib Mikati, who was backed by Hezbollah and its allies including MPs Walid Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi, was appointed on January 25 by president Michel Suleiman as PM-designate to form and head the next cabinet , giving Hezbollah and its allies increased leverage in the country and provoking widespread protest.
Jumblatt and his PSP parliament members reportedly switched allegiance to Hezbollah’s PM candidate, following threats by Hezbollah.
Jumblatt, Mikati and Safadi were all elected on March 14 electoral tickets during the 2009 parliamentary elections.
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