Sayyed Cuts Ties with March 8 Camp after 'Huge Mistake' of Rifi's Appointment
Former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed announced on Saturday that he will be “cutting his ties” with the March 8 camp, following the appointment of the former Internal Security Forces chief as the new Justice Minister.
"I announce cutting communication ties with the March 8 camp,” Sayyed said in a released statement.
He explained his stance: “Any political party has the right to nominate any personality to be represented in the new cabinet, including nominating (Maj. Gen.) Ashraf Rifi.”
"But there is no ethical or logical reason that justifies March 8's step of giving away the Justice Ministry,” he added.
"March 8 had recently objected the extension of Rifi's mandate as an ISF chief, and they have toppled the cabinet of former premier Saad Hariri for rejecting to refer the case of the false witnesses to the Judicial Council, in which Rifi was involved.”
He expressed that it isn't the first time the March 8 camp, including Hizbullah and AMAL Movement, “commits a huge mistake.”
"But this time, the entire coalition bears the responsibility of this huge ethical mistake that cannot be politically justified for any reason.”
Sayyed then announced cutting his ties with the camp, but assured that he will commit to its “strategic political path.”
Prime Minister Tammam Salam finally announced on Saturday the formation of a 24-minister cabinet, ten months and a week after his appointment.
The ministers have been distributed equally between the rival March 8 and 14 camps and centrists and Rifi was named as the new Minister of Justice after the March 8 camp objected his nomination for the Ministry of Interior.
Sayyed, spent four years in prison on suspicion of involvement in the 2005 murder of the former prime minister Rafik Hariri. He denies any involvement and claims to have been subjected to arbitrary detention.
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