MP Saheli accuses ruling bloc of disrupting the formation of national unity government

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 1-7-2008

MP Nawwar Saheli of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc on Sunday said there was no article in the Lebanese constitution that "speaks of the need to coordinate with a former president on detainee exchange."

Saheli was referring to Kataeb President and former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel's comment that the imminent prisoner swap between Hizbullah and "Israel" did not abide by the constitution as it occurred between a Lebanese party and another state, independent of the Lebanese government.

"Why did [Gemayel] not demand the liberation of prisoners, starting with Samir Kintar, during his term in office - especially as he visited the United States several times?" Saheli asked in a radio interview on Tuesday.
The MP accused the pro-government March 14 alliance, of which Gemayel is an active member, of disrupting the formation of a national unity government. Saheli said he held Prime Minister Fouad Siniora responsible for finding solutions to the problems, and called on the premier to be "bold and recognize his powerlessness in composing the government."

"If he wanted to find a solution, he would create solutions out of nothing," Saheli added, emphasizing that the prime minister should not bargain on foreign intervention to come to his aid.
Saheli said the pro-government team was unconvinced with the Doha Agreement as a political settlement and had maintained their "mentality of exclusivity."

He called for a speedy declaration of an official cabinet and pointed out that Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun had stepped down from his previous demand for a sovereign portfolio.