President Suleiman: Elections to Be Held, 60s Law Dead

Local Editor

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman strongly denied Gulf countries having warned Lebanon, stressing, "The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council called on Lebanon to dissociate itself from everything."

Asked about his stance from Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Adnan Mansour's speech in the Arab Foreign Minister's session in Cairo, he stated, "I am waiting for Minister Mansour to return so I can talk to him about this issue, and anyway, the stance he took regarding the [so-called] Syrian opposition representing Syria in the Arab League is dissociation."

Regarding the matter of postponing elections or holding them on time, Suleiman accentuated, "95% indicates elections will be held on time, but not by the 60s law."
"There is a law and a constitution, and we cannot obstruct elections by security issues. If elections were postponed, security dangers will rise," he added.

Asked about the 60s law, Suleiman responded, "The 60s law died and waits to be buried in the Parliament; a law cannot be annulled without a new law to replace it." "Civil peace is not the Army and security forces' responsibility, but the politicians and religious clergymen's. Security forces' duty is to maintain stability and security," The President further stressed.

Suleiman concluded, "Tripoli is a burden and must be treated," questioning, "How much can these [security] forces endure?"

Source: News Agencies, translated and edited by moqawama.org