Aoun warns he may pull out of dialogue with corrupt people

Source: Daily Star, 23-9-2008
BEIRUT: Reform and Change bloc leader MP Michel Aoun said Monday that he might walk out of the national dialogue because he could no longer deal with "corrupt people." At a news conference following his bloc's weekly meeting, Aoun said that a conspiracy was being waged against the Lebanese "to buy their votes."
Aoun added that the March 14 Forces' suggestion to have mayors resign six months rather than 24 months prior to running for parliamentary elections constituted "a serious breach of the Constitution."
"A mayor who resigns six months before running for elections can still make use of municipal funds to sponsor their electoral campaigns," Aoun said.
Aoun also reacted to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's speech on Sunday in which the LF leader apologized for "mistakes" committed by his militia during the 1975-1990 Civil War. Aoun said Geagea should have apologized "to [former Prime Minister Omar] Karami, the Chamoun family and [Marada Movement leader Sleiman] Franjieh."
Aoun added that Geagea's speech "influenced only those who are of marginal importance in the Christian community."
Franjieh on Monday accepted the apology made by Geagea, but challenged the LF boss to accept reconciliation.
"The apology made by Geagea is accepted although it was not addressed to us," Franjieh told a news conference, adding that he would deal "positively" with it.
Geagea is accused of playing a leading role in the assassination of Franjieh's father Toni Franjieh and dozens of other people in 1978.
Addressing Geagea, Franjieh said: "Election results will show who enjoys wider popularity."
Franjieh also criticized Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, calling on him to "refrain from dealing with Christians in a biased manner."
Also commenting on Geagea's speech, in which the LF boss accused Hizbullah of acting upon Syrian and Iranian orders, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad said that Hizbullah "will always remain patriotic and support the national interest."
After a meeting with Franjieh in the northern town of Bnachii on Monday, Raad said that a strong state does not hand over its weapons and empower the enemy. Raad added that the point of reconciliation is "to complement dialogue with responsibility, and to objectively reach common convictions."
Meanwhile, Karami said that the LF boss' speech was important because it "proved that Geagea is a killer, criminal and liar, because he had previously announced that the Syrian regime was responsible for all the crimes." Geagea is also accused of assassinating Karami's brother, then-Prime Minister Rashid Karami, in 1987.
After meeting British Ambassador Frances Mary Guy on Monday, Karami said Geagea was trying to sway public opinion for electoral purposes. He said Geagea was not interested in reconciliation and wanted only to impose himself by force.