General Suleiman: I have had enough!

Source: NowLebanon.com, 03-04-2008
Army Commander General Michel Suleiman told the Lebanese daily As-Safir that he has had enough with the ongoing squabble over his role as Lebanon"s consensus presidential candidate and said that the delay of his election pending an internal agreement has started to offend him.
Suleiman said he will not wait until the end of his term as army commander on November 21, 2008 to leave office, but will resign on August 21.
"I have informed the military council of my decision, and it is final," Sleiman told the daily.
He added that some diplomatic parties have exerted pressure on him to remain as army commander and to reinterpret his role legally.
Commenting on the repercussions of his decision on his presidential candidacy and on the military institution, Suleiman said he has always done his best to preserve the unity of the Lebanese army.
"I have always said I am ready to make any decision, even if it does not serve me or even the army, in order to strengthen national unity," Suleiman said.
He added that he made his decision to force people to feel the weight of the current Lebanese situation, which will eventually wear out the Lebanese army and people.
"I have accepted and still accept being a consensus candidate to better serve my country and ensure everyone"s interests. Yet if ending my services will help politicians agree over another candidate, I will not be an obstacle," Suleiman said.
The army commander ruled out the possibility of a new "Israeli" war and assured that the Lebanese army in the South will not stand still if any aggression occurs.
He also said that the required agreement over his candidacy is being obstructed by preconditions imposed by feuding factions in Lebanon.
 "Lebanon is the country of consensus and settlement, unity and communal living, and friendly relations with Arab and international states, especially with Syria," Suleiman said.