LF begins Doha visit, PSP to launch presidential consultations

A Lebanese Forces delegation started yesterday a visit to Qatar that will last until Thursday, the pro-LF Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Monday.

The delegation will represent LF leader Samir Geagea in meetings with top Qatari officials, comprising MPs Pierre Bou Assi and Melhem Riachi and LF executive committee member Joseph Jbeili.

Opposition sources told Nidaa al-Watan that “Qatar is seeking to pull Lebanon out of the presidential vacuum stage, like France is doing within the five-nation committee.”

A Progressive Socialist Party delegation led by MP Taymour Jumblat will meanwhile kick off a series of meetings with the Lebanese parties as part of an initiative to resolve the political crisis.

The first meeting will be held with Hezbollah and the initiative calls for “separating the presidency from Gaza and the south, abiding by the Taif Accord and the constitutional norms, and respecting the balance of power in parliament,” the newspaper said.