President of the Democratic Gathering and Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt said the creation of an armed Palestinian brigade attached to the Lebanese Army Command would resolve the issue of the refugee camps' disarmament. Jumblatt also reiterated his support for the implementation of the Taif Accord in order to establish a modern nation that fulfills the interests of the majority of its citizens. He further said the international probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri should not include other internal issues.During an interview with the Abu Dhabi television channel Saturday, Jumblatt said the upcoming parliamentary elections do not meet the expectations of the Lebanese but represent the country's transitional period. "We are witnessing a transitional period in the wake of the assassination of (former Prime Minister) Rafik Hariri," he said. Jumblatt also denied the existence of American or French interference in the country's elections and said he had forged alliances with his former enemies in order to establish true accord.
Jumblatt proposed the formation of a Palestinian brigade attached to the Lebanese Army as a solution to the dispute over the disarmament of Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps. This brigade, which would act much like the armed Palestinian brigades in Jordan and Syria, would disarm the camps under orders from Lebanese Army command. Jumblatt also believes the Palestinian brigade might lead to a solution to the raging controversy over Hizbullah's weapons. He said: "I think the creation of an armed Palestinian brigade attached to the Lebanese Army would represent the best solution for the Palestinians' arms in the refugee camps."