 In an interview published by Ash-Sharq al-Awsat, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the March 14 alliance is moving forward with its fight to topple President Emile Lahoud, "regardless of the price it may cost." Geagea also said his party would welcome Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun as the next president if the latter agrees to cooperate in overthrowing Lahoud through legal means.
| This time last year Geagea was in jail and Aoun was in exile... |
In an escalation of his attacks on the president, the LF leader said Lahoud "has become a burden to Lebanon that is paralyzing the government ... and sitting in Baabda doing nothing."
| Since he can't do anything else... |
Geagea also stressed that the March 14 Forces had never cut off their dialogue with Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri in a bid to reach an agreement on the presidency. He said the Forces will proceed with their "rescue plan," regardless of the consequences, but refused to provide any further details.
| That sounds suspiciously like bloodshed... |
However, Geagea did hint that there might be a deal in the works with one of the three main opposition parties, namely the FPM, Hizbullah and Amal.
| My guess is it won't be Hezbollah, and probably won't be Amal. That leaves FPM. |
Geagea also offered unspecified guarantees to Lahoud, should the latter resign and be proved innocent of involvement in former Premier Rafik Hariri's murder.
| If he resigns, he'll probably be "proven" innocent. If he's chased out, he dunnit. |
Speaking from the Cedars resort in which he has resided since his release from prison, Geagea said Lebanon's political climate is ready for toppling the president, considering it is "an overwhelmingly popular goal made clear during the February 14 rally." |