Mikati: Sabotaging Nation a Crime, “March 14” Suffers Disorder

After the word war that "March 14" coalition launched against Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the latter hit back Monday saying that "while it is acceptable to oppose the government, destroying the state is a crime."

"To those (March 14), we tell them: Opposition is a legitimate right, but sabotaging the nation is a crime," Mikati said in his statement.
Mikati viewed that ""March 14" forces that met at the Bristol hotel in Beirut on Sunday were suffering from disorder and bouts of extreme anger. They were verbally attacking the government for failing to confront the truth that they lost power through democratic means."

Accusing "March 14" of a "relentless campaign against both him personally and his newly formed government," Mikati acknowledged that the "campaign is based on deliberate errors to mislead public opinion and the try to turn it against the new government, which has not yet started functioning."

The statement added the ""March 14" forces had expected that Mikati's government would not be formed and the country would remain in a vacuum over the failure of the caretaking cabinet of former PM Saad Hariri to carry out its duties."

"The height of the misinformation lies in allegations that the government ignores the blood of martyrs and their dignity and put the Lebanese government outside international legitimacy, knowing that the PM has repeatedly stressed respect for international resolutions, including resolutions 1701 and 1757," Mikati noted.

PM stressed in his statement that "once again the participants took advantage of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his companions to pour their anger and hatred on the government for reasons that are no longer hidden, particularly since they boycotted the government despite calls urging them to participate,"

In the same context, Mikati rejected "March 14" accusations that his government has "ignored demands for justice as committed by the Lebanese state," accusing the so called opposition of the opposition "misleading the public by accusing the government of evoking the hostility of the citizens and relatives of martyrs and pushing the Lebanese state outside international legitimacy," Mikati said.

Pointing that "everyone knows about the settlement that "March 14"coalition tried to reach at a certain stage at the expense of martyrs," Mikati uncovered that "there is enough proof and documents on how the suggestions, at times printed and other times handwritten, were making the rounds inside Lebanon and outside to lure direct and indirect offers for a settlement."

Mikati also criticized the "March 14" conferees for saying that the new government has carried out a coup against the Lebanese. "As if those who met at the Bristol have the sole authority to represent the Lebanese or are the sole agents of the blood of martyrs."

"National responsibility requires us all to safeguard civil peace and stability and not sabotage or fabricate fake championships that would cause tension the internal situation," the statement concluded.