March 14 Officials Discuss Security Situation, Presidential Elections

Several March 14 alliance officials held talks at the Center House on Tuesday night after the latest security incidents that shook the country and amid the continued deadlock ahead of the presidential elections, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported.

The daily quoted informed sources as saying that the meeting was attended by Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel, al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc chief MP Fouad Saniora and former Minister Mohammed Shatah, who is al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri's advisor.

The sources said that the meeting comes as part of the coordination between the different parties of the March 14 coalition.

The talks focused on the security situation in the country, mainly after attacks on the army in the southern city of Sidon and a bombing in the Hizbullah stronghold of Baalbek.

The three officials also discussed the presidential elections and the need to put an end to the differences among the alliance's parties.

“The meetings will continue away from the media (spotlight) to agree on a candidate or a group of candidates for the presidency,” the sources said.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends in May 2014. But the parliament has been paralyzed over the rejection of several blocs to attend sessions that have wide agendas amid a resigned cabinet.

There are also fears that the differences between the March 8 and March 14 alliances would grow when the elections loom.

(Photo courtesy of al-Joumhouria newspaper)