Geagea Describes Government as 'Vicious,' its Failure to Act is 'Shameful'

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea described on Tuesday the cabinet as “criminal,” lashing out at it for not holding a session to take exceptional measures to confront the critical security situation.

“The government is leaving the Lebanese at a state of insecurity and living in a deteriorating situation,” Geagea said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

He considered the cabinet’s failure to confront the chaos spreading across the county is “shameful.”

Geagea denounced the assault against Dar al-Fatwa clerics on Sunday, holding the remnants of the Syrian regime in Lebanon responsible for the attack.

On Sunday night two Dar al-Fatwa clerics Sheikh Mazen Hariri and Sheikh Ahmed Fakhran were assaulted while passing through the Beirut area of Khandaq al-Ghamiq.

Another two clerics, one of them identified as Sheikh Omar al-Imami, were assaulted in the southern suburb of Shiyyah.

Tensions soared in the wake of the two attacks as angry protesters blocked roads in several regions across Lebanon.

“The aim behind the incidents is to create Sunni-Shiite sedition that would lead to a bloody strife in the country,” Geagea said.

He called on Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi to order the judicial authorities to widen the investigations to reveal the truth behind the two incidents.

Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to President Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp backs the popular revolt.

The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.

Asked about reports saying that the tenure of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi will be extended, the LF chief said that the extension “is necessary given the exceptional security situation in the country.”

“We should renew the term of the security and military leaders without any delay,” Geagea told An Nahar.

The tenure of Qahwaji and Rifi ends on April 1.

An agreement is needed between the March 8 majority coalition and the March 14 opposition over the extension proposal as it requires the cabinet to refer a bill to parliament for approval or an urgent draft-law proposed by at least 10 lawmakers to adopt it by an absolute majority.