Aoun: Dispute between Security Forces, Nahhas Has Taken Legal Course

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stated on Tuesday that the case of the dispute between the security forces and caretaker Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas has taken “its normal legal course.”

He said after the movement’s weekly meeting: “OGERO Telecom was initially placed under the management of Orient Radio and it was later placed under the Telecom Ministry … and therefore its functioning falls under the ministry’s authority.”

Nahhas sought to end the squandering of funds, accusing the Finance Minister and Central Bank governor of mismanaging the wages of employees.

“The Finance Minister and government have no right to take 4500 families hostage in order to politically pressure the Telecommunications Minister,” the MP noted.

“The Telecom Minister is being unjustly pressured,” he said.

Last week, security forces prevented Nahhas from accessing the second floor of a Telecommunications Ministry building at al-Adliyeh as he was heading to dismantle a third GSM network.

Nahhas and the March 8 camp have raised questions over the purpose of the network, while President Michel Suleiman has ordered that legal action be taken against Internal Security Forces chief Major General Ashraf Rifi for refusing to obey Interior Minister orders to evacuate the Intelligence Bureau members from the floor.

Addressing Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s statements that he does not oppose amending the Taif Accord, Aoun said: “In the past, we were attacked for making such a demand.”

“We support al-Rahi’s remarks,” he continued.

On the government formation process, Aoun noted: “The delay is no longer justified.”

“Let Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati reveal the internal reasons thwarting the delay,” he said.

Aoun added: “He should set deadlines for various issues in the Cabinet formation.”