Lebanon news - Aoun: Lebanon’s Shia do not want Wilayat al-Faqih; al-Qaeda assassinated Rafik Hariri

Aoun: Lebanon’s Shia do not want Wilayat al-Faqih; al-Qaeda assassinated Rafik Hariri November 7, 2009

In an interview with As-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper published on Saturday, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said he does not fear Hezbollah in Lebanon or any desire to implement the Iranian concept of Wilayat al-Faqih – the rule of the jurisprudent.

“It is impossible to reach Wilayat al-Faqih, because the Shia in Lebanon do not want this concept and not enough of the population would allow it,” he said.

On the Hezbollah-FPM memorandum of understanding, Aoun said Hezbollah has a different “political pattern” and different priorities than those of the FPM. However, he said the document establishes an understanding about security and defense and paves the way for reform.

Aoun stressed that Hezbollah’s weapons have never harmed any domestic party in its 27 years of existence.

Aoun also said al-Qaeda assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 and criticized the international investigation into the case saying that, had it carried out its job correctly, it would have reached a result.

On Syria, Aoun said sometimes relations between enemies become stronger after war.

In regard to the cabinet formation, Aoun said there is nothing barring his son-in-law Gebran Bassil from being re-appointed to his current post as Telecommunications Minister in the new cabinet, adding that it would be beneficial if Bassil sets a reform plan for another ministry after his success in the Telecom Ministry.

-NOW Lebanon via http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=124896