Franjieh demands Geagea confess, apologize and resign from politics

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 23-10-2008
Christian reconciliation was contingent on the Lebanese Forces leaders' confessions, apologies, and resignation from politics, according to the Marada Movement.
A report published by the Al-Akhbar daily on Thursday quoted an unnamed source from the Maronite League as saying Geagea had thought he could use reconciliation under his own conditions to set the example for anyone who expected an apology, but Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh had had a different plan in mind.
The source said Geagea had created "a scenario with a celebration at the presidential palace under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman" and then would "drink a toast to silence all ... crimes of the civil war."
However, Geagea had not calculated that Franjieh would demand a confession, apology and Geagea's retirement from political action, the source added.
The Marada leader also called for the formation of joint committees, which included representatives of the Maronite League or its patriarch, to coordinate solutions to any streets problems, the source said. Geagea's refusal to expand the reconciliation talks so that they included Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun also increased dislike for his forces among Marada supporters, the source said.
Geagea did "not care for the family of the martyr, Prime Minister Rashid Karami, and takes Dory Chamoun's forgiveness for the assassination of his brother, Danny, and his family," the source added.
Thursday's report comes a day after hopes for Christian reconciliation fell apart, as the Marada Movement insisted on having all its conditions met and former Prime Minister Omar Karami rejected the LF leaders' apology.