Aoun Dispatches Envoys to Discuss with Rivals Extension Crisis

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is expected to dispatch delegations to meet with rival political parties to end the political stalemate in the country.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Wednesday, the delegations will discuss with the party leaders Aoun's point of view regarding the crises gripping the country and his suggested solutions.

After the delegations returns to Aoun with the summary of the meetings, the FPM chief will decide either to boycott cabinet sessions with its Shiite ally Hizbullah or suggest holding a constituent assembly that would reshape the Lebanese political system.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was first to call for the establishment of a national conference in Lebanon or rather a constituent assembly in June last year.

The daily said Aoun fears that Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq would resort to extending the term of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous, who is set to retire in June, under the pretext of necessity and in the absence of the government.

Aoun is expected to hold a press conference on Friday to announce his stance regarding various local developments, in particular the controversial appointment of high-ranking security officials.

The military posts in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman whose tenure ended in May last year.

The FPM chief has previously rejected any attempts to extend the terms of high-ranking security officials.

Media reports had said that Aoun's main objective is to receive political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, who is Aoun's son-in-law, as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.

Roukoz's tenure ends in October while the term of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.

Despite the reports about his insistence to have his son-in-law as army chief, Aoun denied that he had made such a proposal.

An Nahar newspaper also reported on Wednesday that contacts will kick off between Christian leaderships to ease the tension and reach a breakthrough over the extension dilemma.

Information obtained by the daily revealed that the four Maronite leaders, Aoun, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel and Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh, in addition to the Maronite Patriarchate, will discuss the names of three qualified candidates and if no agreement was reached the cabinet would resort to extending the term of Qahwaji.

H.K.

G.K.