After the parliamentary session on Tuesday, Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil said that what had happened during the session was proof positive of earlier attempts to obstruct the election of President Sleiman and the formation of a cabinet.

Bassil said that he had been “the first one to call for the electoral reforms,” but had insisted that such reforms be separate from the issue of electoral redistricting, which had already been agreed upon at Doha last May.

Bassil said that the people of Lebanon should know which parties were trying to delay approval of citizens’ rights. He said that in doing so these parties were increasing political tension.

Bassil criticized the majority in parliament for placating both the Christian community, on the new electoral law, and the Sunni community on the weapons’ issue.

He said that every member of the March 14 alliance in parliament had supported the delay, though he singled out those within the alliance representing Christian areas.

-NOW Staff