Reports: March 14 Expects Change in Arab, International Stances on Lebanon

Arab and international stances on the current situation in Lebanon are likely to change soon becausereports received by most of these powers on the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan were “inaccurate”, a prominent source of the opposition March 14 alliance told the pan-Arab al-Hayat daily on Saturday.

“Most of these sides received inaccurate reports on the assassination," it said.

"The reports did not reflect the real situation in Lebanon and therefore, we expect a change in the Arab and international stances by the beginning of November,” the source told the daily.

It added: “Most reports to Western embassies in Lebanon considered, in the first moments of the assassination of Hasan, that the regime in Syria aims to export its crisis to Lebanon, and was betting on creating a power vacuum."

“That however could drag the country into the unknown and therefore Lebanon must be spared any attempt to spread the crisis from Syria,” it continued.

“European embassies are not only afraid of the confusion that would befall Lebanon under the insistence of the Syrian regime to export its crisis to Lebanon, but from the effects that could touch the role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon south of the Litani River,” the source said.

It remarked that European ambassadors to Lebanon were confused over whether to support Lebanon's state and its institutions or back the current cabinet.

It noted that the "change in American and European stances on Lebanon stemmed from the international community's position that backs a change in government, but leaves the decision to Lebanese powers because it is an internal affair.”

The March 14 camp has been demanding the formation of a neutral cabinet that oversees the 2013 parliamentary elections, stressing “no need for dialogue as there are no differences on the ministerial statement which should remain under the same roof of the Baabda Declaration.”

Hasan was assassinated in a massive car bomb in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh neighborhood that left three dead and more than 100 wounded. The assassination was widely blamed by the opposition on the Syrian regime.

Miqati announced last week that he does not hold on to the position of premiership and that he suspended any decision on his resignation until he holds consultations with Suleiman and the political parties.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton visited Lebanon on Tuesday following the support voiced by ambassadors of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly to Suleiman.

They expressed support for the stability and continuity of government activity in Lebanon.

The March 14 forces demanded Miqati's cabinet to resign following the assassination Hasan.

They accused the cabinet of “covering” the crime and blamed the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad for the killing.