FeaturedHassan NasrallahLeaders of UmmahLebanonOthersWest AsiaWorld News

Hezbollah not after power in Lebanon

The Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah says it is not striving to gain power in the country, blaming rival leaders for their efforts to falsify the truth.

Speaking on a televised speech addressing people in the Lebanese city of Baalbek on Tuesday, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah rejected claims that the Prime Minister designate Najib Mikati was Hezbollah’s pick for the post.

Nasrallah criticized certain political leaders from the rival camp for making efforts to mislead the public opinion in Lebanon and to falsify the truth.

On Tuesday, Mikati won 68 votes out of the parliament’s 128 seats to achieve the required parliamentary majority he needed to become Lebanon’s new prime minister.

President Michel Sleiman then appointed Mikati as prime minister amid protests by Saad Hariri’s supporters who went on a rampage in various Lebanese cities on what they called “a day of rage.”

The win came two days after the discussions held between lawmakers and Sleiman and almost two weeks after the collapse of Hariri’s cabinet due to resignation of 11 opposition ministers.

The collective resignation was in protest at a potential move by the US-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) to issue an indictment against Hezbollah.

The tribunal is investigating the 2005 assassination of Lebanese former Premier Rafiq Hariri.

Nasrallah said the resistance understood the feelings of those who were angry at the development but went on to criticize their political leaders for instigating violence by misleading and exciting “good-hearted” protesters.

He said the opposition resignations were in line with the camp’s constitutional rights and condemned the West’s double standards regarding the parties in Lebanon.

He pointed out how a demonstration by resistance supporters would have drawn condemnations from the international community and the US in particular.

Nasrallah further revealed that Mikati’s appointment came despite the intervention of different countries in the two-day parliamentary consultations.

He singled out a phone call by US Vice president Joe Biden, who contacted a Lebanese politician and urged him to give his backing to then caretaker Premier Saad Hariri.

The Hezbollah leader reiterated that the Lebanese resistance is not after gaining power in the country.

He called on all factions in Lebanon to join hands and help Mikati to form an inclusive partnership government, emphasizing that Hezbollah strongly opposes a one-color government.

The Lebanese leader condemned the US-sponsored Hariri tribunal as part of the failed effort by the West and its allies in Lebanon to topple Hezbollah and the country’s anti-Israel resistance.

Back to top button