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New President should fulfill Lebanese aspirations for independence and democracy

Monday, February 27, 2006

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	MORE NEWS New President should fulfill Lebanese aspirations for independence and democracy President Lahoud must step down Sudanese envoy conveys message to head of the Future bloc on Arab Summit US Secretary of State backs Lebanese sovereignty on visit to Beirut Beirut local councilors visit Koreitem Montevideo to name a street after assassinated Prime Minister Attack on shrine in Iraq aims at creating discord among Muslims Union of Zahle Municipalities pays tribute to assassinated Prime Minister Popular bloc in Parliament highlights need for internal dialogue Liberal Nationalists Party leader ‘advises’ President Lahoud to step down Future legislative bloc supports House Speaker’s national dialogue initiative Legislative petitions urge termination of President Lahoud’s mandate
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The Future bloc in Parliament led by MP Saad Rafic Hariri reiterated calls on President Emile Lahoud to step down and said his continued presence at the helm of Lebanon’s political leadership endangered the country’s higher interests and was against the will of the majority of the Lebanese. At a meeting in Koreitem, legislators also welcomed next week’s national dialogue conference, but cautioned against any sectarian or political imbalances that could jeopardize the meeting.

MPs welcomed the national conference that is scheduled to take place in Parliament next week, but expressed concerns over a decision not to invite the Deputy House Speaker, who represents Orthodox Christians, saying any imbalance in representation will harm the credibility of internal dialogue, although they welcomed MP Ghassan Tueini’s participation. The bloc hoped that the conference will create national consensus and accord over important issues, primarily support for the international probe into Prime Minister Rafic Hariri’s assassination and an international trial for the suspects. They made clear that punishing the perpetrators of last year’s terrorist attack will bolster stability and declare an end to the custodian era’s disregard for legal norms.

MPs also hailed an initiative by Lebanese youths and students to launch a petition demanding President Emile Lahoud step down, saying this will help elect a new head of state that will fulfill Lebanese aspirations for independence, sovereignty and democracy. They criticized press comments by President Lahoud who made a wide range of allegations against the government, and said his statements amounted to sectarian incitement, which is not surprising since his goal is to keep the Presidency. MPs reaffirmed the significance of the Presidency, which should be filled by a figure who represents the will of the Lebanese and does not endanger Lebanon’s foreign interests, as the current President does.