Local Editor

Maronite Cardinal Beshara al-Rai urged Friday the Lebanese officials to hold their responsibilities away from refraining to act.

He further called for "the swift formation of a new government today before tomorrow, and to stop betting with Lebanon's fate."

From Sao Paolo, Brazil, al-Rai stated: "It is unacceptable that the Lebanese politicians destroy what their ancestors have built and drag Lebanon into regional and international wars," he said.

"Never had Lebanon supported war," he said, and confirmed: "We refuse that war launches from this country."
In parallel, the Head of the Lebanese church rejected "turning Lebanon either into a passage for weapons' smuggling or a land of fire."
As he rejected dealing with Lebanon based on individual interests, al-Rai warned that "we are passing through a critical stage."

Thus, he called Lebanese officials "to work today before tomorrow to form a new government , given that third of the Lebanese people are now under the poverty line and the number of Syrian refuges in Lebanon exceeded a million."

On the elections, al-Rai reiterated: "After four years of studies, it is not acceptable to reach the date of the parliamentary elections without having a new fair electoral law."

Addressing the Lebanese officials, he said: "Stop manipulating with Lebanon's fate. Either assume your responsibilities or leave."

Source: al-Ahed news, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org