Doha proposes to Bassil sanctions lifting if he eases stance on army chief

Qatar has proposed to clear the record of U.S. sanctioned Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil if the latter in return agrees to soften his stance on the presidential nomination of Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper said.

The daily said Monday that Bassil accepted the offer, adding that the Qatari security delegation that visited Lebanon last week, will return to the country after the Arab League meeting in Jeddah.

According to local media reports, Qatar has long been pushing for Aoun's nomination, while ad-Diyar newspaper reported last week that the Qatari drive seems to be coordinated with Saudi Arabia and the United States.