Aoun Says March 14 Has Gunmen Able to Obstruct Elections
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stated on Wednesday that the March 14 opposition has “armed men that can postpone the parliamentary elections”, noting that “extremism in Lebanon is encouraged by the presence of terrorist movements in Syria”.
"Supporters of the opposition can provoke security incidents or insist on adopting a certain electoral law,” Aoun expressed in an interview with the Washington-based al-Hurra television station, explaining that this would put the elections off.
"March 14 has weakened and become divided and as such, they might resort to their gunmen to halt the electoral process,” he elaborated.
“Elections must be held on time”.
The FPM leader considered that the growing extremism in Lebanon has been encouraged by “terrorist movements in Syria after all radical organizations in Arab countries have entered the neighboring country”.
"I do not encourage any armed interference in Syria's conflict,” Aoun stated, pointing out however, that Lebanese residents of border villages “have the right to defend themselves and fight back at terrorist attacks”.
Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Assad, while the March 14 camp voices its support for the popular revolt.
The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into the Lebanon.
The cabinet has adopted a policy of disassociation towards the neighboring country's events but the security incidents on the border have sparked rumors about an alleged involvement of Hizbullah fighters in the conflict.
The rebel Free Syrian Army had threatened in February to shell Hizbullah military bases in Lebanon after accusing it of firing across the border into territory it controls.
General Selim Idriss, the FSA's chief of staff, told Agence France Presse that Hizbullah had shelled villages around Qusayr, which is located in the central Syrian province of Homs, from the border village of Zeita, a Hizbullah stronghold in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon.
Hizbullah has repeatedly denied any involvement in Syria's clashes.
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