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Delaying announcement of electoral alliance worthwhile move to preserve unity
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Mr. Saadeddine Hariri expressed his resolve to cement national conciliation and unity among all the Lebanese and said delaying the announcement of his list of candidates for Parliamentary elections in Beirut by a few days, was a worthwhile sacrifice to bolster national unity, in the face of attempts to postpone legislative elections, which start in Beirut on May 29. Mr. Hariri told a huge rally in Beirut, the achievements of March 14, when more than a million Lebanese marched in downtown Beirut demanding the truth behind slain Prime Minister Rafic Hariri’s murder be revealed, freedom and national unity must be preserved.
The late leader’s son, who is heading an electoral alliance for Beirut’s legislative elections, told the massive rally at the headquarters of the Beirut Development Association in Verdun, in the presence of MPs from the Beirut Decision parliamentary bloc, and Hizbollah’s candidate in the Beirut polls Mr. Ameen Sheri as well as other dignitaries, the late Premier sacrificed his blood and life for Lebanon, and the May 29 ballot should amount to a vote of allegiance for the assassinated Prime Minister’s political values and sacrifices, especially strengthening national unity. He said delaying the announcement of his political alliance for a few days to ensure elections are held on time will preserve national conciliation. Mr. Hariri also made clear the full truth behind the late leader’s assassination on February 14 should be revealed.
Also at the rally, MP Mohammed Qabbani vowed allegiance to the slain Premier’s political path and Mr. Saadeddine’s leadership. He warned that the late Prime Minister’s “battle” is not over yet, pointing to sectarian incitement by some who want to divide the country, and the “regime’s president” who fought the late Prime Minister. He told the rally, voters should cast their ballots for Mr. Saadeddine and score a resounding victory, highlighting the dismissal of former General Security chief Jameel Sayyid and former Prosecutor General Adnan Addoum that should “be followed by (President Emile) Lahoud.”
MP Ghazi Aridi also urged vigilance against an intense sectarian campaign that aims to divide the Lebanese, and told the rally, the late leader’s policies of moderation and national unity should be preserved. He said some are trying to appear as the defenders of their sect after they themselves harmed that sect when chosen president. He stressed they did not knowing that murdering the slain Prime Minister would have such a result, but are now trying to terrorize the Lebanese and derail elections. MP Aridi made clear that the same people had tailored the 2000 electoral law to defeat the late Prime Minister but he not only won, he was able to reveal their true political size.
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