Mario Aoun: Al-Rahi's Remarks on Baroud Unprecedented

Former minister Mario Aoun on Monday described Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi's recent remarks on caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud as "unprecedented."

Aoun said the patriarch's comments in support of Baroud were unprecedented given the fact that al-Rahi is the highest Maronite religious authority in the country, suggesting that the remarks were not only aimed at voicing support for Baroud's return to the interior ministry in the new cabinet.

He said that al-Rahi's remarks hinted that the patriarch wants Baroud to be the country's next president.

Aoun called on the patriarch to start his tenure by "gathering all Maronites and all Lebanese," revealing that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun would soon comment on al-Rahi's remarks.

On Sunday al-Rahi threw his support behind Baroud, saying he is "a national minister who brings hope to every Lebanese."

"No one can be in no need of him," al-Rahi told a delegation visiting him from the town of Jeita on Sunday. Baroud was at the head of the delegation.

An Nahar daily said Monday that al-Rahi would soon visit President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Premier Saad Hariri and Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati to thank them for their participation in his inauguration ceremony in Bkirki last Friday.

Al-Rahi also said Sunday that the Lebanese were in dire need for a truthful reconciliation based on forgiveness.

Addressing visiting delegations, he said Lebanon was home to multiculturalism and coexistence based on openness and faith.