Lebanon's opposition to hold Thursday an emergency conference at Beirut's Bristol Hotel aiming at tackling the repercussions of implementing the year 2000 electoral law in light of the Maronite Bishops' Statement yesterday. The meeting comes after a tough warning by the Maronite Church, which  raised the possibility of a pan-Christian boycott of the polls. Expected among the leading attendants are MP Walid Jumblat and Saad Rafik Hariri, who are both against delaying the elections for the purpose devising a new electoral law. The meeting will also be attended by  members of  the Qornet Shahwan Gathering, but it was unclear whether General Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement would take part.

Aoun- Sfeir meet

Following a sudden meeting with Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at his seat in Bkirki, General Aoun added to the tension by voicing his stern rejection of the year 2000 electoral law, which he described as one that marginalizes a large segment of of the Lebanese people. Local media read in Aoun's stance a concealed threat to unleash street demonstrations, and even to the extent of highlighting the possibility of boycotting the elections. Meanwhile, General Aoun received Jumblat's closest ally MP Marwan Hamadeh in what appeared to be an attempt to resolve the conflict the two had over what expedited Syria's pullout: Hariri's assassination or UN Resolution 1559 in which Aoun claims to have had a role. Meanwhile, news reports said today that U.S. and French diplomats were in intensive contacts with Bkirki last night to understand the position of the Maronite Church.

Election boycott

Christian opposition leader General Michel Aoun, in an interview Thursday morning with the Voice of Lebanon (VDL), said  the current crisis "is open to all possibilities including a delay and a boycott" of the forthcoming elections. He  also accused Druze Leader MP Walid Jumblat of being cyclic with a  record of changing political stances at whim.

It is however unclear whether the elections will be held as scheduled in view of the declared Christian rejection of the year 2000 law. Some said that the Christian opposition is already considering a boycott. Others, including former Foreign Minister Jean Obeid, propose amending the law in a way  acceptable to all parties. Others argue it's too late to devise a new law that will be acceptable to most Lebanese.

Reactions to Bishops statement

Druze Chieftain Walid Jumblat, leader of the Democratic Gathering, said the Maronite Bishops' statement was not objective, adding that it was rather based on incitement by Syrian agents including former interior minister Suleiman Franjieh. Jumblat charged that all  Franjieh was doing is trying to gain sympathy of the Christians to re-float himself,  adding that people have memories and t won't forget Franjieh's political course, which is staunchly pro-Syrian..

On the other hand, prominent Muslim political leaders have so far kept their silence on the statement. A comment is still due from Spaker Berri and Hebollah chief  Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, both of whom are strong pro-Syrian allies, as well as Lebanon's Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Kabbani and others.

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