ABOLITION OF METN ELECTIONS POSSIBLE

NaharNet
June 16 2009
Lebanon

It seems that the story of election results in northern Metn has
plenty of unfinished chapters still to be written.

The daily Ad Diyar on Tuesday said it seemed that "torpedoing"
elections in the Metn constituency is very likely after post-election
contestation complaints filed by both MP Michel Murr and his rival
Gen. Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement.

What sparked the tension was an audio tape broadcast on Aoun’s OTV
said to be from Murr in which he threatened Syriac Orthodox priest
Elias al-Akari by making use of his son’s position as defense minister.

Ad Diyar said Akari has left Lebanon. It said some reports have
confirmed that he fled to Syria to avoid interrogation.

Murr had filed a lawsuit with the Prosecutor’s General Office against
OTV, accusing it of forgery, usage of forged documentation as well
as instigating hatred. He accompanied his complaint with evidence as
well as two tapes.

The Archbishopric of Mount Lebanon for the Syriac Orthodox Church has
also filed a lawsuit against father Akari, accusing him of embezzlement
and stealing of money as well as of fabrication, forgery and bribery.

Aoun had earlier exchanged accusations with Murr over election funding.