Nasrallah 'captive to Syrian, Iranian interests'

Addressing Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s response to the speech made in commemoration of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the March 14 political alliance said: “We were not surprised by his nervous stance.” The March 14 party said on Wednesday that last week’s ceremony commemorating the seventh anniversary of the assassination of former premier Hariri marked an important development in the alliance's mission to assert Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty. It called in a statement after its weekly meeting for devising a new “unified project under the name of Lebanon’s salvation.” “This plan would include a comprehensive vision for the country and how the Lebanese should deal with it,” it explained. “Instead of reciprocating with calm dialogue, which called on Hezbollah to act as a ruling partner, his speech proved he was captive to Syrian and Iranian interests,” said the statement. “He therefore rejected the openness that was demonstrated,” it continued. “Nasrallah’s stance reflects his arrogance towards the Lebanese … he undermined a political camp that represents more than half of the Lebanese population,” added the statement. It renewed its condemnation of the government’s performance, saying that it was following regional orders and therefore demanded that it resign. Nasrallah last Thursday slammed the March 14 speeches at the Hariri ceremony, saying: “Anyone keen on preventing Sunni-Shiite strife must right now stop the statements of their MPs and media outlets that are full of despicable sectarianism.” Former PM Saad Hariri had stated during the ceremony that Lebanon’s fate should be determined by its people through dialogue, adding that the possession of arms in the country should be limited to state authorities.