Aoun Says He Will No Longer Listen to Lebanon's Clerics

Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun criticized the Maronite Patriarch as well as the Grand Mufti of Lebanon for their hush up regarding the heated political bickering, saying their "silence is dreadful."

Speaking to his supporters, Aoun demanded a response from deputy Saad Hariri's Al-Mustaqbal Movement as to whether the group supports partitioning Lebanon.

"And if they are against partitioning, do they endorse a call by MP Walid Jumblat and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea which is aimed at disuniting Lebanon? Aoun asked. "… Is this a Sunni policy?"

He urged Hariri a swift response "because the situation is no longer bearable."

Aoun assured Lebanon's Sunnis that "no one wants to wipe them out."

"This principle should be applied to everyone," he told fans who visited his residence at Rabieh on Thursday evening.
"I will not ask whether or not Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir is with or against this policy," Aoun went on. "He is free to voice his opinion or refrain (from expressing his opinion)."

"I will not ask the Grand Mufti (Sheikh Mohammed Qabbani for his opinion).

"I am not going to listen to clergymen who daily interfere in politics and give their views. "But then again, their silence is dreadful," Aoun said.

"Let it be known to everyone that from now on we will not hush up and we will not accept anyone to hide behind silence," Aoun threatened.

Addressing the pro-government camp, Aoun said: "They want partitioning, let it be. Why should we kill one another? Let us divide!"

"They want unity? Unity cannot be established by (violent) means … We do not dread any settlement. But we refuse to reach any deal through bloodshed."