" ... Saad Hariri responded in a statement on Sunday that any parties refusing to support his re-designation would, in turn, be left out of plans to form the new unity government.“Hariri hopes that by getting re-appointed he can strengthen his position to force the opposition to accept his proposals for a unity government,” said Ahmad, a 57-year-old shoe polisher on the streets of Beirut. “We lost our country when we lost [former Premier]Rafik Hariri. His son Saad is not ready to govern us. Every party is pulling the country in different directions and Hariri doesn’t have the strength to unify us.”Many people on the bustling streets of Beirut share in Ahmad’s pessimism. ....Ali, a 29-year-old Hizbullah supporter believes that “the March 14 alliance are not convinced by Hariri’s leadership and he must sort out the internal divisions between the Christian parties before he is able to successfully form a unified government coalition.“Hariri has shown great weakness, unlike his father, and has not received the international support he desired to force the hands of the other political powers,” Ali added. He concluded: “Lebanon cannot be run by one color.”Imad, a 52-year-old Future Movement supporter was less critical of Hariri. “His resignation is a strategic move (laughter) designed to strengthen his position, he wants to form a strong government and retain the share of power. He believes this is his right according to the Taif Accord,” he said.Imad warned that Lebanon was in danger of another civil war “unless the factions can unite,” adding: “Hariri needs to find the strength to form a government that pleases the majority, yet still retains the power for the March 14 alliance. Saudi Arabia and Syria are at a standstill and this needs to be broken for the sake of Lebanese independence.”
Posted by G, Z, & or B at 5:38 PM
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