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Franjieh, Suleiman, (1910-1992). Lebanese
politician born June 15, 1910, Zgharta, Lebanon
was president of Lebanon (1970-76). He is
considered to be in large part responsible for the
country's descent into war in the mid-1970s.
Franjieh was educated in Tripoli and Beirut and
operated an import-export firm in Beirut. In 1957
he was implicated in the murder of several members
of a rival clan and fled to Syria, where he became
friends with Hafez al-Assad who was later to
become president of Syria (1971). Franjieh soon
returned to Lebanon to succeed his elder brother,
Hamid, as clan leader, and he held a succession of
ministerial posts after being elected to his
brother's former seat in parliament (1960).
On Aug. 17, 1970, parliament elected Franjieh
president by one vote on the third ballot, after
armed men loyal to him forced their way into
Parliament and prevented another vote from taking
place. Franjieh soon alienated the people of
Lebanon by his autocratic rule and his promotion
of inept and corrupt clansmen, notably his son
Tony. During the war Franjieh maintained a militia
called Marada or the Zgharta Liberation Army which
was commanded by Tony. In June 1976, shortly
before he left office, it is claimed by some,
Franjieh reportedly invited Assad to send troops
into Lebanon to intervene in the fighting. Leaders
who opposed Syrian intervention allied themselves
with Israel. In early 1978 arguments broke out
between Franjieh and other members the Lebanese
Front due to his pro Syrian leanings. In June
1978, members of the Phalange, murdered Tony along
with his wife and daughter after which the power
of the Franjiehs declined. Suleiman remained an
ally of Syria up to his death on July 23, 1992.
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