'Saniora's Decision to Run Was Made in US to Create Tension'

10/04/2009 | Almanar

Former Member of Parliament Nasser Qandil said that Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's decision to run for the legislature in June ends the Doha agreement, adding that the decision to run was "made in America to create tensions in the city."

In a press conference on Friday, Qandil said that "Saniora's nomination ends the Doha agreement, for the prime minister is supposed to be neutral." He called for forming a new cabinet with a neutral prime minister that would oversee the June parliamentary elections.

He called on former Prime Minister Najib Miqati, who's, according to Qandil, "the most excelled candidate to head a national unity government," to reject any possibility to enter into any coalition that does not include Omar Karami (a former Prime Minister as well), former Foreign Minister Jean Obeid and someone representing the Allawite sect.

The former MP called on President Michel Sleiman to intervene and foster the prime minister to withdraw his nomination or pull out of the race. He also accused US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman of indirect interference in the Lebanese parliamentary elections, saying that Feltman fostered the nomination of candidate Samer Saade in Tripoli and other Christian members of the March 14 Forces in the Shouf, Aley and Baabda regions.

"This matter would certainly lead to an open civil war in the country on the eve of the parliament.