Hizbullah MP: `Aoun is the most prominent candidate

Source: Daily Star, 02-10-2007
BEIRUT: Hizbullah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan said in an interview published Monday that Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun was not the sole candidate for the presidency, although he is at the top of the list of presidential candidates. "Hizbullah believes Aoun is the most prominent consensus candidate - but not the only one," Hassan said in an interview with the Naharnet Web site. He said the FPM leader and retired general enjoyed the political qualifications necessary to occupy the top post, which he said were "competence, uprightness, tact and diplomacy."
Highlighting the fact that Hizbullah has not yet declared its official candidate, Hassan termed "firm and solid" the party`s alliance with Aoun. Aoun`s FPM and the Amal Movement are the other major members of the opposition, which is in the midst of talks with the ruling `March (Feb.) 14` coalition to agree on a consensus candidate to succeed outgoing President Emile Lahoud, whose term ends on November 24.
"There are about 10 presidential candidates so far. We do not reject any name under the umbrella of consensus, including [`March (Feb.) 14` Forces members] Boutros Harb and Nassib Lahoud," he said.
"Hizbullah and the opposition want a president who represents all the Lebanese and who maintains a good relationship with the Arab and international communities, as well as with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir," he added.
Meanwhile, Hassan refused to comment on a statement issued by the Maronite Bishops Council last month and tackled the contentious issue of whether Hizbullah should keep its arms.
"We are used not to responding to the council`s statements as a show of respect for the bishops," he said.
Tackling the issue of Security Council Resolution 1559, Hassan said: "It is a US-`"Israeli"` resolution which constitutes an attack against the Lebanese sovereignty and interference into Lebanon`s domestic affairs. International resolutions are not more important than Lebanon`s interests and internal stability."
The Security Council passed Resolution 1559 late in 2004 after Lahoud`s term was extended, but the resolution also demands the disarmament of all nonstate militias.
Hassan voiced Hizbullah`s support for an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, despite some legal objections to the organization of the tribunal.
UN Resolution 1757 established a special tribunal to try suspects in Hariri`s February 2005 assassination, although the opposition has objected to certain elements of the resolution.
Hassan also criticized the detention of four former security chiefs, who have been in custody for more than a year for their alleged involvement in Hariri`s killing. Hassan suggested putting them under house arrest if authorities believed that the four might try to leave the country or if authorities were worried about the four`s safety.
Asked about Hizbullah`s reaction to any military attack targeting Iran and Syria, Hassan said his party would merely condemn the offensive, organize demonstrations and offer moral support.
"But if we are the ones targeted by a military attack, Hizbullah`s response will be similar to that during the summer 2006 war. As for our allies, they know how to defend themselves," he added.
Asked when the opposition would dismantle its tent-city protest in Downtown Beirut, Hassan said "the protest is the response - when the crisis is over the response will be removed."
The opposition launched the sit-in on December 1 last year after six opposition ministers quit the Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, and protesters have demanded the resignation of the Cabinet.
Hassan accused the United States of "attempting to Iraq-ize the region," in reference to an alleged scheme by Washington to spread the violence that has plagued Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion.
He warned against the adoption of a law by the US Congress to partition Lebanon similar to the non-binding US Senate resolution from last week that promotes a federal approach to the Iraqi state.