Lebanese Islamic group calls for boycotting the elections
Lebanon, Politics, 5/21/2005

The Islamic group in Lebanon has renewed its call to boycott the Lebanese parliamentary elections which start on may 29 as candidates and voters. These groups attributed boycotting the voting process to what it called the international interventions and the formula of the elections law.

The group said in a statement read in a press conference held on Friday that the " Lebanese public opinion was shocked by the volume of international interference and the flow of certain Lebanese forces to this intervention." The group stressed that the current elections can not furnish for a new phase starts with an elected parliament according to a just law. It described the elections measure according to 2000 law as unfair, noting that it was rejected by most of the Lebanese forces.

The Islamic group also called for shortening the term of the next parliament to one year at the most which it said will be selected at the command of foreign embassies.

Worthy mentioning that the Islamic ( Sunni) group used to have traditional alliance with the late former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. This group also enjoys an electoral weight in certain Sunni areas like Sidon in the south of Lebanon, Beirut, the capital and Tripoli in the north.

Several countries especially the USA, Saudi Arabia and France stressed the need of convening the Lebanese elections at their due time, regardless to the shape of the law. This is for, according to these countries, ensuring the return back of political stability following the assassination of al-Hariri on February 14 and the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon on April 26th.

Previous Stories:
  Committee on Lebanese detainees in Israeli Jails demands their release   (5/20/2005)
  Lebanon to hold elections as schedule   (5/19/2005)
  Opposition certain of winning Lebanese elections; removing politics from the security departments   (5/19/2005)

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