March 14 Denies Withdrawing Support for Geagea in Presidential Race, Hale Leaves for Riyadh

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale left Beirut on Saturday evening and headed to Riyadh where he is expected to hold talks on the upcoming presidential elections.

"Ambassador Hale is leaving to Riyadh to meet with former Premier Saad Hariri and Saudi officials to discuss international support for Lebanon,” the Unites States' embassy said in a released statement.

Meanwhile, the Central News Agency reported that the U.S. diplomat will hold talks with Saudi authorities on the presidential vote.

Hale had stressed on Friday after meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri that the anticipated elections are a “Lebanese matter,” adding that the international community's role in the respect was limited to encouraging the Lebanese to protect the polls.

His visit to Riyadh comes one day after Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri returned to the country to “resume his diplomatic duties” after months of absence.

In a related matter, March 14 sources “strongly denied” on Saturday all reports saying that the alliance will abandon its support to its presidential candidate Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse instead another nominee in the next round of votes.

"All these reports are not accurate. Our support for Geagea was based on principles and standards that did not and will not change as they stem from a belief in a project, not just a person,” March 14 sources told the CNA.

"And changing our decision in the middle of the battle is a sign of weakness,” they noted.

"But this does not mean that March 14 is not open to all possibilities and no new developments have taken place until this moment concerning the coalition's stance,” the sources added.

Al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday morning that the March 14 forces are holding closed talks to withdraw support for Geagea and back Labor Minister Boutros Harb's nomination for office instead.

Geagea was able to gather 48 votes in his favor in the first round of votes at the parliament. Meanwhile, 52 MPs cast a blank vote, centrist nominee Henri Helou won the support of 16 lawmakers and Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel got one vote in his favor.

And in the second round of votes on Wednesday, lawmakers once again failed to elect a new president as differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances led to a lack of quorum.

While the March 14 camp held onto its candidate Geagea, the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, except for Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections over lack of consensus on one candidate.

Berri set Wednesday, May 7 for a third round of voting.

S.D.B.