Assad Phones Suleiman, Discusses Lebanese, Arab Issues

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday telephoned President Michel Suleiman to congratulate him on the holidays.

State-run National News Agency said the two leaders also discussed relations between the two countries and the general situation at the Arab level.

President Michel Suleiman snapped back at his critics saying he could decide how the five ministers representing him in the cabinet would vote on the false witnesses file if it was subject to voting.

"Let it be clear that I can control the votes of the five ministers within my bloc," Suleiman told As Safir newspaper in remarks published Monday.

"Honestly, I don't want to embarrass anyone, including those who are demanding voting without assessing its negative consequences," the president said.

He reiterated that he still holds onto consensus over the issue inside cabinet to avoid further deterioration in the political situation.

Suleiman stressed that he did not object the referral of the file to the Judicial Council on condition that any decision is made through consensus.
"It is my duty as president to preserve the national unity cabinet," he said.