Lebanon Ruling Bloc Retreat Welcome

Source: Alalam.ir, 4-12-2007
BIERUT--Lebanon's ruling party has backed away from its former stance by accepting nomination of Michel Suleiman as president, a Lebanese parliamentarian has said.
Nematollah Abi Nasr, a member of change and reform bloc in Lebanon's parliament which is affiliated to Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun, made the remarks
in an interview with Alalam.
He termed this shift in position by the ruling March 14 block as a clear sign of retreat from initial stance.
Abi Nasr said that the ruling majority had been opposing the election of a military man to the presidential post, as well as amendments to the constitution.
"The ruling party has changed its position firstly to end the current political vacuum and secondly to block Michel Aoun's nomination for presidency," he said.
"This was the main reason behind the 180-degree change of direction."
But, Abi Nasr welcomed this shift as a positive step towards ending political crisis in the country.
He said Lebanon's army commander Michel Suleiman can run for president now.
"The Lebanese army managed to resolve the Nahr el-Bared crisis under Michel Suleiman, while the government of Fouad Siniorea did not provide the army with much needed military arms and weaponries," he said.
"Lebanese army is being seen now as the symbol of national unity in the country."
The ruling March 14 alliance announced Sunday that it would back Suleiman as a compromise candidate for the presidency, backtracking on its earlier opposition to amending the Constitution in order to fill the vacancy in the top post.