Now Lebanon - Aoun requests an apology from Hariri - September 19, 2010

“I request [Prime Minister Saad] Hariri’s apology for his policy that has persecuted me for four years and distorted my reputation,” Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun told Al-Jazeera television on Saturday.

Aoun said that the March 8 coalition is not carrying out a coup, but “a political revolution on corruption and the attack on individuals’ rights.”

Last Tuesday, Aoun called on Lebanese citizens to not abide by requests from the Internal Security Forces (ISF)- Information Branch or Attorney General Said Mirza, adding that the state is falling and that “the judiciary is burning.”
Aoun reiterated his call for forming a parliamentary investigation committee to examine the actions of Attorney General Said Mirza, ISF Director General Achraf Rifi, and ISF-Information Branch head Wissam al-Hassan, and added that he is supporting former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed’s case because Sayyed was falsely accused.

In a press conference last week, Sayyed warned Hariri to “give me my right, [or] I swear on my honor that I [will] take it with my own hands.” He also called on the people to “revolt against authority and attack officials in their houses.”

Sayyed was detained from 2005 to 2009 on suspicion of involvement in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In April 2009, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) ordered his release due to lack of evidence.

“Those who want to kill do not reveal their intentions,” the MP said, in reference to Sayyed’s words to Hariri.
Aoun also said that the “STL is more than politicized” and that the national dialogue is futile.

Commenting on his position toward President Michel Sleiman, Aoun said “I did not [verbally] attack anyone, and I will not apologize.”

In a fiery speech earlier on September 5, Aoun criticized the government and asked what Sleiman “is doing after his constitutional speech besides weeping.

“[Retired Brigadier General Fayez] Karam does not know of the details of my relations with Hezbollah or any other ally,” the MP added.

Karam- an FPM official- was arrested on August 5 on charges of spying for Israel.

-NOW Lebanon