By Hadi Khatib
Lebanonwire staff

Reverting to what he knows best, President Emile Lahoud launched a “military style” verbal attack against his political tormentors challenging them for a constitutional and political confrontation to oust him in a message that he clearly spelled: “let them try, but I am not budging.”

A defiant Lahoud pulled out all the stops during an interview with Qatari Al-Jazeera television Saturday, hanging everyone of his opponents’ dirty laundry and uncovering a cache’ of verbal weapons arsenal that reflected a ‘never die’ attitude reminder of a General Custer at the battle of Little Bighorn.

"If I quit now, it might be thought that I was a traitor, or that I had violated the constitution," Lahoud said, referring to the only two instances for which a head of state can be tried.

"I will not meet their (March 14th alliance) demand and leave office. If I should leave, so should they and they can only oust me if the constitution states I am accused of treason or if I have violated the constitution, two things I have never committed."

Speaking of violations, Lahoud said his accusers all have a hand in the Al-Medina multi-million dollar embezzlement scandal.

“Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh assured me that while several of my staunchest opponents have gotten their hands dirty with the bank mine and those of my kids are clear of any wrongdoing whatsoever,” Lahoud told his interlocutor at the interview.

“Looking at (Lebanese Forces leader Samir) Geagea, wasn’t he convicted of killing former premier Rashid Karame', Danny Chamoon, Toni Franjieh and his family and shooting army officers in cold blood? Who is he to ask for my resignation while I haven’t got one single drop of blood on my record?” Lahoud said.

Refuting accusations that he remains a symbol of the former Syria-Lebanese security regime and the last vestige of Syrian tutelage over Lebanon, Lahoud said all his opponents were paying homage to Syria at one point or another.

Turning his attention to Progressive Socialist Party leader Jumblat, Lahoud said “he was talking to (former Syrian intelligence head) Ghazi Kanaan trying through him to seek favors from me.”

Lahoud’s shrapnel did not spare the parliament’s majority leader, saying Saad Hariri should abandon his personal vendetta against him. “Hariri’s asking for my ousting to revenge his dad’s murder is a mistake…he should know the facts first and we are also asking for the truth.”

Hariri is reported to be on a “private” trip to Riyadh where Special UN Envoy for the implementation of UN 1559 Terje-Roed Larsen is discussing the implementation of the security resolution and other regional issues with Saudi officials.

Lahoud challenged most of the politicians who were now demanding his resignation to hold new elections if they were confident of keeping a parliamentary majority they won last summer.

“If they do not fear anything let them call for early elections and let the new deputies elect their new president. Or if they want, let them hold a referendum and see who the people would choose as their new president,” he said.

Lahoud also reaffirmed his backing to Hezbollah saying “the weapons of the resistance should exist until the Arab-Israeli conflict comes to an end and the Palestinians return to their homeland.”

Lahoud said that the “only guarantee Lebanon has against repeated Israeli aggression” is for Hezbollah to keep its arms.

As for presidential candidate Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, Lahoud said he was a “man of his word”.

“He greatly resembles me and could continue the work that we have begun, because he graduated from the same military school, respects his promises and fights against corruption.”

Lahoud also repeated his criticisms of French President Jacques Chirac, accusing him again of interfering in Lebanese affairs.

“President Chirac has his own plans; unfortunately, his deeds include interfering in Lebanese affairs and affecting the UN Security Council and other states.”

An-Nahar daily reported Sunday that the March 14th alliance has vowed to respond to Lahoud’s comments “before, during and after” national dialogue resumes next Wednesday.

Jumblat told Al-Safwa television yesterday that “redrawing the borders with Syria is key to the ongoing crisis” calling for a president “free from Syrian conditions.”

“Lahoud represents the remnants of Syrian tutelage of Lebanon and is currently sabotaging everything including the investigation into the murder probe of (former MP) Jubran Tueini,” he said.

Jumblat said that the final solution will be reached when Hezbollah turns in his arms to the Lebanese Army. “What is required is for Lebanon to go with Syria to the UN Security Council to remap the borders around the Shebaa Farms or else the issue will remain a fish hook in the hands of Syria.”

In an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBCi), Geagea said that Aoun is a strong candidate for the presidency “an issue which will clear up by next Wednesday.”

Aoun announced yesterday that the current governmental crisis is not with the president.

“Let us have new parliamentary elections and its results will be the real judge,” he said

Meanwhile in an interview with Agence France Press, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Lebanon had suffered under Syria’s tutelage, undermining social, economic and political sectors, and helping lowering economic growth to 1% in 2005.

“Lebanese have to learn how to govern themselves and Syrians have to know that Lebanon is an independent country,” Siniora said.

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