Suleiman Allegedly Asked Najjar ‘Orally’ to ‘Study’ Rifi’s Case

President Michel Suleiman did not ask caretaker Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar to take judicial measures against Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, informed sources told An Nahar daily, claiming that the request to “study” the case was made “orally” and then interpreted by a memo released by the presidency’s general-directorate.

The sources told An Nahar daily on Wednesday that the oral request was based on article 49 of the constitution and did not have a reference for the referral of Rifi to the judiciary over his rejection to comply with caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud’s order to pull members of the ISF’s Information Branch from a building affiliated with the telecommunications ministry.

Suleiman allegedly asked Najjar to only study the issue given that Baroud relieved himself of his duties and acting Interior Minister Elias Murr and Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri are abroad.

Article 49 says the following: “The president of the republic is the head of state and is the symbol of the nation’s unity. He shall safeguard the constitution and Lebanon’s independence, unity, and territorial integrity. The president shall preside over the supreme defense council and be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces which fall under the authority of the council of ministers.”

Sources close to Suleiman confirmed to As Safir daily that he made the request to Najjar because the two security portfolios (interior and defense) are not occupied and Hariri is abroad.

“Such a constitutional gap pushed the president towards bridging it by resorting to article 49,” the sources said.

Asked about accusations that constitutionally the president is not allowed to address a minister through a written order as he did with the order issued to Najjar by the presidency’s general-directorate, the sources said: “The president didn’t address the justice minister in writing. He did it orally and gave instructions that the acting director-general of the presidency wrote in a memo.”

Meanwhile, Suleiman held separate talks with al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora and MP Ahmed Fatfat on Tuesday to discuss the issue that has deepened the political divide in the country.