Areslan: Saniora clings to his post at the expense of the blood of poor, innocent Lebanese

Source: NowLebanon, 11-05-2008
In an interview with New TV on Sunday night, Democratic Party leader Talal Areslan called for an immediate ceasefire that would allow the army to take over in the Chouf and other regions in which armed supporters of the government and opposition took their political strife to the streets.
"I'm a side in this issue, and the calls I had with [Hizbullah Secretary General] Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah were to coordinate with him all the steps on the ground," Areslan said.
The former minister also said he had "continuous communication" with on his political rival, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, to "clarify several issues that he [Jumblatt] asked regarding the army, its deployment and the ground points they will take."
Areslan expressed his conviction that Lebanon would be safe when the al-Jabal region, a mainly Druze-populated mount, was safe.
Areslan confirmed a meeting with Army Commander Michel Sleiman in the near future, adding that
Suleiman and the chief of military staff George Khoury played a big role in maintaining Lebanon's unity. "Suleiman was wise in the way he handled the situation."
Areslan reiterated his belief in dialogue as a means to a solution to the crisis, and accused Saniora of "clinging to his post at the expense of the blood of the poor, innocent Lebanese."
"Saniora is posing as the prime minister," he said. "It is a shame for him to remain in the Serial for one minute, and to talk in the name of the Lebanese."
Arlsan accused Saniora of collaborating with the foreign powers, foreign embassies and 'Israel' against the resistance and the Lebanese people in all their religions and sects.
"We have been patient throughout the last 3 years, and we don't want to remove anyone from the political scene. We want the constitution to be enforced."
Areslan reassured the Lebanese that the opposition did not aim at removing any political figures from the political scene.