The Daily Star, Lebanon
June 4 2005

Nassib Lahoud announces list for northern Metn
Gabriel Murr will stand for Orthodox seat and not ally with Aoun as
predicted

By Therese Sfeir
Daily Star staff

NACCACHE, Metn: Metn MP Nassib Lahoud announced an electoral list for
the northern Metn supported by the Christian opposition Qornet
Shehwan Gathering and the Democratic Renewal Movement. The list
includes Lahoud, Metn MP Pierre Gemayel, Wadih Hajj and Eddy Abi
Lamaa for the Maronite seats.

It also includes Qornet Shehwan Gathering member Gabriel Murr and
Michel Akl for the Orthodox seats, Rafi Madoyan for the Armenian seat
and Philippe Maalouf for the Catholic.

The announcement came during a news conference held at Murr’s
residence in Naccache. It had been understood that Murr was going to
ally with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, who has parted
company from the Lebanese opposition.

Lahoud stressed the need to promote the unity of the opposition and
enhance cooperation between its leaders in order to stand up to the
challenges facing the country.

In an indirect reference to Aoun, Gemayel said: “This is the real
opposition list that expresses the true voices of Metn’s citizens.”

He added that the opposition had sought to reach an agreement with
Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, but had been surprised by the
latter’s announcement of an incomplete electoral list earlier in the
week that left seats open for the Maronite, Orthodox and Armenian
seats.

Aoun explained the lack of a full list by saying: “The circumstances
didn’t allow us to form one unified list because of our alliance with
the opposing list in northern Metn, which will be declared Friday.”

Commenting on the assassination of journalist Samir Kassir, Gemayel
said: “We have called, during the meeting of the Bristol Gathering on
Thursday, for the resignation of President Emile Lahoud.”

Responding to comments made by Aoun on Thursday, in which the retired
general held the Cabinet responsible for Kassir’s murder, Gemayel
said: “The interim government is formed by neutral figures and cannot
be held responsible for the crime.”