Al Mustaqbal

Future Movement MPs: Mikati does not have the power to resign, fall of government does not mean end of world

Future Movement officials think that Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived to his post via a political decision from Syria and Hezbollah and consequently cannot be the one to decide whether or not he will resign. They noted that his allies would not allow him to be proactive and that Mikati is the one who brought this upon himself because he knew that this day would come where he has to make a decision regarding the international tribunal.

The lawmakers stress that the fall of the government does not mean the end of the world, assuring that talks of civil strife are baseless.

Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat said that Mikati's step to resign if Cabinet fails to fund the international tribunal is a maneuver. He told Voice of Lebanon radio station that Mikati came to power via a political decision from Syria and Hezbollah and he consequently does not have the power to decide to quit.

Al-Hayat

Betting on Berri's efforts to finance the court and avoid Mikati's resignation.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri attempted to ease the political crisis as a result of Prime Minister Najib Mikati's hint that he would resign if the Cabinet fails to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The topic is scheduled to be discussed next Wednesday. His remarks were met with the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun’s comments that his ministers would boycott if their agenda is not put before the funding issue.

Berri said the solution does not lie in resignation but in continuing to search for a solution with dialogue, adding that experiences have proven that no one can have power or the right to veto national resolutions.

Berri's speech came after Mikati left Beirut heading to Rome on a vacation where he is scheduled to meet Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican, hoping to find a way out of funding the international tribunal before Wednesday's session which is expected to be canceled in a bid to avoid the fall of the government.

Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat:

Qanso to Ash-sharq Al-Awsat: sanctions against Syria would not succeed.

Hezbollah: If it wasn't for Syria, Lebanon would not have survived.

In parallel with escalation towards the Syrian regime which is now responding to the Arab's efforts to end the crisis, Syria's allies in Lebanon continue their support for the Syrian regime and stand in solidarity with the Syrian President Bashar Assad in the face of the "conspiracy" targeting Syria and criticizing the Arab position which, they say, is aimed at pressuring Syria.

In this regard, State Minister Ali Qanso said that the Arab position can only be read as part of a series of steps managed by the U.S. administration and its western allies to pressure Syria. In a telephone interview with Ash sharq Al-Awsat, he said: “once again, the Arab League moves away from its Arabism and takes a contradictory position to [Syria]," noting that the Arab League has proven that it is turning its back on Syria.

In a similar note, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad said that those who are conspiring today against Syria are targeting the strategy of balance and preemption which the resistance has created. He added that the conspiracy is also targeting Syria's steadfastness with its support to the resistance in the face of the enemy which is targeting our nation.

"If it wasn't for Syria and its strategic vision, Lebanon would not have survived," Raad said.