March 14 decides to boycott Mikati’s government

According to informed sources the March 14 leaders met Friday evening and decided not to participate in any shape or form in the new government of PM Designate Nagib Mikati . The decision was reportedly attributed to the undemocratic way Mikati was appointed, and specially because of the threats and pressure against MP Walid Jumblatt and his bloc

The sources also told an Nahar that March 14 leaders decided not to deal directly with Mikati but with whoever is behind him . A possible reference to Hezbollah.

In a related development MP Khaled Zahraman told Voice of Lebanon: in principle Future Movement and along with its allies in March 14 have decided not to participate in the new government pointing out that “the points presented to the Prime Minister-designate are intended to clarify his position and not conditions for participation in the government or not.

He stressed that March 14 will continue with its sit-in in central Beirut until February 14 when the protest will spread to all of Lebanon but will be peaceful .

Mikati, backed by Hezbollah and its March 8 allies , was appointed Tuesday 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 protests.

Hezbollah brought down Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s ( STL) indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 .