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Aoun to March 14: One Yell and
You Will Fall!
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun warned
the ruling March 14 alliance against accepting Speaker
Nabih Berri's latest initiative, saying "one yell and
you will fall!"
Aoun said that other alternatives are readily available
in the event that Berri's proposal failed, stressing
that "this does not mean we would slide into civil war
because no one is willing to die for the sake of the
government."
The former army general stressed that while "the other
time" March 14 got protection, "this time, it takes one
yell in their faces and it's over," Aoun said in remarks
published by the daily As-Safir on Tuesday.
"All it takes is one yell for the ruling team to fall
and collapse," he said sarcastically. "Because this time
you will find no one to protect you."
Aoun accused the pro-government camp of "stealing" the
government.
"Let them give us the government and take the
presidency," he said. "At least we will split the
rip-off share in half."
Aoun said he believed MP Saad Hariri was "unable to
decide on matters within the ranks of the majority …
because he does not possess authority over the others."
Berri had announced that the Hizbullah-led opposition
was willing to drop its demand for a national unity
government on condition the country's feuding political
parties agreed on a consensus presidential candidate.
Aoun also responded to accusations made against him by
rival Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea that his FPM
group was getting military training at Hizbullah bases.
"We have individual weapons like the rest of the
Lebanese," he explained.
"These weapons do exist and they are for self-defense
and not (to be used) to carry out military operations
for we do not undergo military or combat training," he
said.
Aoun said the opposition has no plans to make any move
before the March 14 coalition declares its stance
regarding Berri's initiative, insisting that the ruling
camp does not possess half-plus-one MPs ' votes "even
with international support."
Aoun stressed that consensus over a presidential
candidate has to be based on agreement over the
nominee's political platform and not over names of
candidates.
The daily newspaper an-Nahar reported Sunday that
members of Aoun's FPM and two pro-Syrian factions were
receiving military training in the Bekaa Valley and the
Byblos Province
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