March 14 Vows to Defend Lebanon Against Coup to Turn Lebanon into Iranian Base

The March 14 general-secretariat on Wednesday described the resignation of March 8 ministers as an "escape from their national responsibilities," and accused Hizbullah and its allies of seeking to turn Lebanon into an Iranian base.

In a statement following an extraordinary meeting, the general-secretariat said the resignations were proof that the opposition wasn't seeking for the success of the Syrian-Saudi initiative aimed at helping Lebanon contain the repercussions of the indictment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The conferees accused March 8 of "blackmailing the state" and seeking to make gains at the expense of the truth and justice in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination case.

On the other hand, "the March 14 forces made all sacrifices possible. They even gave up some of their democratic rights to support the state and preserve its national unity," they said.

Among the sacrifices was their consent to share power with the minority and their support for the president in his openness to Syria.

The general-secretariat said that "differences with the other team were on the nature of the state and not on how to govern the state." Consequently, it vowed to continue to defend Lebanon against "the coup that aims at turning it into an Iranian base on the Mediterranean shores."

The March 14 coalition also told its supporters that it will remain committed to the tribunal and coexistence.