Mustaqbal Urges End to 'Arsal Siege', Says Dialogue Aims to End Presidential Void

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for “direct negotiations” with the kidnappers of the Lebanese servicemen and urged “an end to the siege” of the Bekaa border town of Arsal, while stressing that ending the “presidential void” is the main topic in the upcoming dialogue with Hizbullah.

The bloc “supports the government's decision to engage in direct negotiations in the way the government and its premier believe to be appropriate and beneficial in the attempt to secure the release of the captive servicemen,” Mustaqbal said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

The extremist al-Nusra Front and Islamic State groups have so far executed four captive servicemen while around 27 troops and policemen are still in their custody. The servicemen were taken hostage during deadly clashes with the Lebanese army in and around Arsal in early August.

The bloc also voiced concern over “the blocking of the Arsal road by armed groups,” in the wake of the reported assassination of captive policeman Ali al-Bazzal at the hands of al-Nusra Front.

It accused the “armed groups” -- in reference to gunmen from Bazzal's hometown al-Bazzaliyeh – of “imposing a siege on (Arsal's) civilians.”

The road was reopened on Tuesday afternoon, according to state-run National News Agency.

Turning to the issue of the upcoming dialogue between al-Mustaqbal movement and Hizbullah, the bloc stressed the importance of “starting communication with Hizbullah with the aim of reaching an agreement over ending the state of presidential void.”

The election of a president would contribute to “alleviating tensions in the country and making progress on the course of confronting the aggravating crises.”

The March 8 camp is holding onto the candidacy of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun in the face of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, the nominee of the March 14 forces.

The rivalry between Aoun and Geagea has led to a lack of quorum in 15 electoral sessions in parliament, amid a boycott by the MPs of Aoun and Hizbullah.

The presidential seat has been vacant since president Michel Suleiman's term ended on May 25.

Y.R.