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By Therese Sfeir
Daily Star staff
Saturday, June 04, 2005
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."
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