Geagea Links Zahrani Plant Shutdown to Lassa, Tarshish Violations

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea linked the shutdown of the Zahrani power plant to the attack on a clergyman and the media in Lassa and the attempt to expand Hizbullah’s telecom network in Tarshish.

“What happened in Zahrani is part of the events in Lassa and Tarshish” and the repeated violations of the Syrian army of Lebanon’s border, Geagea told al-Joumhouria daily published Monday.

The Zahrani plant resumed electricity production on Sunday after Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri urged the workers to end their protest.

Media reports have said that southern municipalities, which are either controlled by Hizbullah or Amal, forced the workers to close the plant on Friday.

Geagea said the settlement reached to resume the operations of the plant was an indication of Hizbullah’s ability to put its conditions on the government.

The cabinet should collapse for turning a blind eye to the country’s sovereignty, independence and the economic future of its citizens, he said.

Geagea also said the government’s stay in power is a big loss to Lebanon and the Lebanese.

“The past few months have proved that it is incapable of carrying out any work at the political, economic and social level,” he told al-Joumhouria.

“Its functions harm Lebanon and the interest of the Lebanese,” Geagea said.