Source: nowlebanon.com, 29-01-2009

Former Prime Minister Omar Karami regretted the return of sectarian rhetoric, saying the country would head to a catastrophe or even to a war, if the (so-called) majority maintained such speeches during its electoral campaigns for the coming parliamentary elections.

"Tripoli will witness a strong electoral battle, despite talks about attempts to form a unified coalition [candidate] list including all forces to prevent any confrontation," he said in an interview with As-Safir daily on Thursday.

Karami said he and his family had been targeted in a smear campaign in Tripoli. He clarified that the Saudi grant to the al-Manar University in Tripoli an old topic, and it was completely unrelated to politics. "It was the Saudi generosity," he commented. "We have paid dear blood as a price for our national and nationalist choices and beliefs. We will not change them now regardless of all reasons, conditions and pressures," he said, explaining "such beliefs were the reason for the attack against him, especially pre-elections' date."

For instance, he said, it had been reported that Faisal Karami, his son, would run in the elections along with Future leader MP Saad Hariri. However, Karami assured that no decision had been taken yet concerning the issue, "especially since the electoral battle in Tripoli is going to be fierce."

He accused the (US backed) March 14 alliance of spending millions of cash dollars prior to the elections. Karami said he would discuss the elections with the opposition, since he was still aligned with it.