MP Saad Launches Campaign: Security is Red Line

 
Source: Al-Manar TV, 10-4-2009

A few hours after Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Saniora announced his candidacy to represent the Capital of the South, Saida seemed heading towards a fierce electoral battle in which all weapons would be legalized.

On Thursday, Saida MP Ossama Saad who welcomed the "battle" since the first moment launched his electoral battle and vowed to cling to democracy, reminding everyone that the foolish policies cannot lead the special position of Saida in any case.

Addressing his supporters, Saad noted that the Capital of the South has no interest in being against the Resistance. "We will fight in the electoral battle to defend the history of the city and its role," Saad emphasized.

He stressed that deprivation Saida was suffering was not a result of the political differences as some were claiming, recalling that some assumed the Prime Ministry and the Finance Ministry, and did not execute any development projects in the city. "Today, they want to prevail over the political decisions of the city instead of executing development projects," Saad added, in an indirect reference to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora who is running for one of the Sunni seats in the city.

"We cling to democracy, and we expect to win the elections," he said. "As for the security situation in the city during the elections, for us it is a red line," he confirmed.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Bahia Hariri, who's also running for one of the two Sunni seats in the district, denied that the decision of Saniora to run in the elections was a foreign one. She also refused to portray Saniora's candidacy as an attempt to delete prominent political figures and groups.

Minister Hariri urged all concerned parties not to exaggerate in analyzing Saniora's candidacy, stressing that Saniora had the right to run. "It's the people's will that will prevail at the end," she said, noting that the Islamic Jamaa should understand the circumstances. "Saniora might have greater chances to win in Saida. However, we offered them a parliamentary seat in Beirut-3 district," she pointed out.