Berri: Foreign Order Came From the US to Obstruct Syrian-Saudi Initiative

Local Editor

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called for forming a government as soon as possible but without hastiness, assuring that the March 8 opposition will nominate ministers that would facilitate the Premier-designate Najib Mikati's mission, "because we are keen on cooperating with him."

Berri said he expected the formation of a mixed politicians-technocrat government, he noted in a statement to As-Safir Lebanese daily that the AMAL movement and Hizbullah have agreed to divide the Shiite shares among themselves. He further noted his support to the premier-designate Mikati's effort to try to join the March 14 team to the government.

Speaker Nabih Berri replied at former Premier Saad Hariri on Monday rejecting accusations that foreign interference had brought down the Hariri government. Hariri said Saturday that "enormous" pressure from outside Lebanon was to blame for the collapse of his government earlier this month.

"It is true that there was a foreign order," Berri said about Hariri's remarks. "But it came from America to obstruct the Syrian-Saudi agreement that was almost complete before former PM Saad Hariri's visit to the U.S. and his meeting with President Barack Obama."
Commenting on Hariri's remarks that Damascus was behind collapsing his government, Berri said the March 8 forces hadn't received in the past 30 years the respect that Hariri got from Damascus in the past few months, adding "What is our fault if he (Hariri) has lost this chance?"