Saniora Accuses Iran of Hindering Presidential Settlement

Head of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora stressed that Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri is committed to the proposal he made on ending the presidential deadlock, reported various media on Wednesday.

Saniora stated that the initiative has not collapsed and that it will be revitalized after the holiday season is over, added al-Mustaqbal daily.

He meanwhile accused Iran of hampering efforts to end the impasse.

Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun and some Christian March 14 coalition parties are also behind the obstruction of the proposal, said the former premier.

Saniora later said that Hariri's proposal “could not have seen the light without an indirect Saudi-Iranian understanding.”

“Tehran later backed down on the agreement, which was also hampered by Aoun's stances,” he noted according to As Safir newspaper.

Hariri had proposed the nomination of Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh as president as part of a greater settlement that would revitalize the political scene in Lebanon.

The move was met by reservations from Aoun and Hariri's allies in the March 14 camp, the Kataeb Party and Lebanese Forces.

M.T.

D.A.