Miqati Questions March 14 Accusations against him over Hasan Crime amid Reports of his Resignation
Prime Minister Najib Miqati reportedly was “strongly affected” by the March 14 forces' statement that held him responsible for Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Wissam al-Hasan's assassination, said al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.
Informed sources told the daily that the statement prompted Miqati to inform Speaker Nabih Berri of his intention to resign, while the premier's circles questioned the March 14 forces' accusations against him.
“Miqati had long defended Hasan when he was being subject to the most vicious political campaigns,” they remarked.
They revealed that “internal and external contacts are being held for him to take the appropriate stance” in wake of the murder.
His circles told al-Liwaa newspaper that the premier will call on all sides to reach an agreement over the formation of a national salvation government aimed at confronting the division in Lebanon.
The sources revealed that several contacts were made with Miqati, warning him against handing in his resignation, “especially since the five Tripoli ministers cannot hold the popular, moral, national, and political repercussions of such a step.”
Meanwhile, al-Akhbar newspaper said that the March 14 camp's pressure against Miqati is aimed at calling the government to resign and achieve “its real goal of becoming part of the cabinet where it can assume security portfolios.”
Hasan was killed on Friday in a car bomb in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut.
Conflicting reports emerged over the number of dead in the blast with some sides putting the figure at three and others at eight.
At least a hundred people were wounded in the explosion.
The March 14 forces demanded on Friday that Miqati and the government resign, holding him responsible for the assassination.
They also accused Syrian President Bashar Assad, his regional allies, and local pawns in Lebanon of being behind the murder.
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