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Saad Hariri predicts opposition will win and overthrow Lahoud
Tuesday, 17 May, 2005 @ 6:38 PM
NaharNet, Lebanon
May 17 2005
Saad Rafik Hariri predicts the opposition is certain to win between
80 and 90 seats in Lebanon's new parliament and would stage a "white
coup" to overthrow President Lahoud's Syrian-sponsored police state.
"It will be white revolution against the police state that governed
Lebanon during 15 years," Saad Hariri said in an interview carried
by the Agence France Presse, referring to the Syrian secret service
control of Lebanon's affairs since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.
Saad is certain to win Beirut's 19 seats in the new parliament in a
coalition with Qornet Shahwan, Solange Bashir Gemayel and Hizbullah
in the first round of the 4-stage elections that is set for May 29.
Four contestants on Hariri's Beirut list have already been declared
winners unopposed, incumbent Michel Pharoun for Beirut's Catholic seat,
newcomer Mrs. Gemayel for the Maronite seat, incumbent Ghazi Aridi for
the Druze seat and newcomer Ghazi Youssef for one of two Shiite seats.
Hariri's 4 Armenians on the list have also virtually won their seats
after the announcement of the Tashnak party, which supports the Lahoud
regime, that it will not contest the Beirut elections.
Hariri's powerful Druze ally Walid Jumblat has formed a coalition list
with Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces in the Chouf district, which is
certain to win all eight seats allotted to the Druze hinterland.
Saad has declared that Tayyar Al Mustaqbal, or Future Tide political
movement, would vigorously contest the elections in north Lebanon in
an alliance with Qornet Shahwan and Geagea's Lebanese Forces.
Although Gen. Aoun has declared an elections war against the
Hariri-Jumblat alliance, Saad told AFP he was still trying to win
over Gen. Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement to the opposition front.
Aoun, however, has ruled out a reconciliation with either Hariri or
Jumblat, vowing to confront them in the Aley-Baabda district, north
Lebanon and the Bekaa.
"Each and both of them is worse than Rustom Ghazaleh," Aoun said in
a fresh attack on Hariri and Jumblat, comparing them to the dreaded
Syrian military intelligence chief who personally sponsored the
establishment of the police state system under the Lahoud regime
before Syria's evacuation of Lebanon.
Aoun said that he will be Joining the pro Syrian loyalists in the
Aley Baabda electoral districts
Tuesday, 17 May, 2005 @ 6:38 PM
NaharNet, Lebanon
May 17 2005
Saad Rafik Hariri predicts the opposition is certain to win between
80 and 90 seats in Lebanon's new parliament and would stage a "white
coup" to overthrow President Lahoud's Syrian-sponsored police state.
"It will be white revolution against the police state that governed
Lebanon during 15 years," Saad Hariri said in an interview carried
by the Agence France Presse, referring to the Syrian secret service
control of Lebanon's affairs since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.
Saad is certain to win Beirut's 19 seats in the new parliament in a
coalition with Qornet Shahwan, Solange Bashir Gemayel and Hizbullah
in the first round of the 4-stage elections that is set for May 29.
Four contestants on Hariri's Beirut list have already been declared
winners unopposed, incumbent Michel Pharoun for Beirut's Catholic seat,
newcomer Mrs. Gemayel for the Maronite seat, incumbent Ghazi Aridi for
the Druze seat and newcomer Ghazi Youssef for one of two Shiite seats.
Hariri's 4 Armenians on the list have also virtually won their seats
after the announcement of the Tashnak party, which supports the Lahoud
regime, that it will not contest the Beirut elections.
Hariri's powerful Druze ally Walid Jumblat has formed a coalition list
with Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces in the Chouf district, which is
certain to win all eight seats allotted to the Druze hinterland.
Saad has declared that Tayyar Al Mustaqbal, or Future Tide political
movement, would vigorously contest the elections in north Lebanon in
an alliance with Qornet Shahwan and Geagea's Lebanese Forces.
Although Gen. Aoun has declared an elections war against the
Hariri-Jumblat alliance, Saad told AFP he was still trying to win
over Gen. Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement to the opposition front.
Aoun, however, has ruled out a reconciliation with either Hariri or
Jumblat, vowing to confront them in the Aley-Baabda district, north
Lebanon and the Bekaa.
"Each and both of them is worse than Rustom Ghazaleh," Aoun said in
a fresh attack on Hariri and Jumblat, comparing them to the dreaded
Syrian military intelligence chief who personally sponsored the
establishment of the police state system under the Lahoud regime
before Syria's evacuation of Lebanon.
Aoun said that he will be Joining the pro Syrian loyalists in the
Aley Baabda electoral districts