With the slogan “Let history repeat itself,” the remains of the so-called March 14 forces declared on Sunday their refusal to join the government to be formed by Prime Minister-Designate Najib Miqati and the formation of a so-called ‘civil and peaceful’ opposition.
That’s it. The March 14 forces want the history to repeat itself. On the eve of March 14, 2011, the March 14 forces are hoping the scenario of March 14, 2005, would be repeated. From the opposition ranks after six years in power, the March 14 forces want to convince the people of the same principles and values, as if the last six years vanished. MARCH 14… PEACEFUL OPPOSITION!
On Sunday, the March 14 forces held an ‘exceptional’ meeting at the Bristol Hotel in Beirut after which they announced their refusal to take part in the country's new government.
In a statement read out by former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora following the meeting, the March 14 forces claimed they reject to legitimize what they called the coup. "The way the national unity cabinet was toppled and the atmospheres of intimidation … created by the March 8 camp during the process of parliamentary consultations and designation of Miqati have confirmed our doubts that the March 8 camp is pressing on with its coup," March 14 said in its statement.
The March 14 forces also accused the rival camp of "infringing on the powers of the president and the premier-designate, which threatens the role of constitutional authorities and the powers, image and efficiency of state institutions."
They went on to vow to confront the alleged "coup" through "all means available in the framework of its commitment to the practice of democracy."
HARIRI: MIQATI’S GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO ELIMINATE STL
The head of the caretaker government Saad Hariri, meanwhile, said the March 14 forces reject to be part of Najib Miqati's government that aims at "eliminating" the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. "They wanted us to become part of a government that seeks to eliminate the international tribunal from the policy statement," Hariri told Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal.
March 14 "saw that it is in the interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese to move to a real national opposition that responds to the requirements of a democratic system," Hariri said in the interview published Monday.
MIQATI CIRCLES SNAP BACK
However, Premier-designate Najib Miqati's circles criticized the March 14 forces’ statement. They told Lebanese daily As-Safir that there was nothing new in the statement of March 14 MPs that announced the coalition would be the new opposition. "Everyone has the right to express his or her opinion," they said.
The circles emphasized that the PM-Designate would now intensify his contacts to form the cabinet.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
Uprooted Palestinian
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