Thursday, August 27, 2009

Hariri's camp internal troubles "too dangerous to discuss in public"...


Prothero in the National, here

" ... But Mr Hariri also faces broad problems from Lebanon’s influential Christian community as they angle for additional power and control of critical ministries. He has had little success in wrangling either with his own allies or the Christian parties supporting the Hizbollah-led opposition.

........ Hariri will have to face trouble from within his own camp, as well as from the followers of former general Michel Aoun, a critical opposition figure, who is demanding control of key ministries over the objections of the majority..........Hariri’s allies in the Kata’eb Party, a right-wing Christian movement yesterday also announced they would suspend, but not quit, their participation in the majority alliance, nicknamed “March 14”.

Leaders of the Kata’eb have criticised Mr Hariri’s willingness to work with Mr Aoun in any way and several of its members have been particularly aggressive in stymieing progress on the new cabinet, according to one of their nominal allies.

One Christian political figure, who asked not to be named, described many of the problems as personal, as political figures harass rivals from other parties and refuse to compromise on allocation of the ministries, as well as fermenting complaints that March 14’s financial backing is not transparent. Several Kata’eb loyalists appear to be demanding answers on how the alliance is funded.
The MP Akram Shohayib, a majority supporter aligned with Mr Jumblatt, said that the internal battles in March 14 are too dangerous to discuss in public. “If I told you what happens during the meeting of the general secretariat of March 14, the country will go to chaos,” he said, before refusing further comment."


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