Berri's bloc, Qabalan criticize al-Rahi's call for int'l conference

An international conference “must be the last solution” for Lebanon, sources from Speaker Nabih Berri’s parliamentary bloc said, responding to remarks by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

“The main problem in the presidential elections is inter-Christian,” the sources added, in remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper published Monday.

“Can Bkirki or any other Lebanese sides play a consensual role and at least unify the vision and standards before resorting to outside forces, especially that the juncture concerns Christians in the first place?” the sources said.

Grand Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan for his part said that “a salvation, sovereign solution passes exclusively through parliament and not through any international conference.”

Al-Rahi had called for the conference on Sunday, saying his call comes in light of “parliament’s miserable failure to elect a new president for the republic.”