- Title: LEBANON-POLITICS/RALLY Thousands of Lebanese rally for Christian politician Aoun
- Date: 11th October 2015
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING ON STREET LEADING TO PRESIDENTIAL PALACE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING HOLDING LEBANESE AND FREE PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT (FPM) FLAGS FREE PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT FLAG HEAD OF FREE PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT, FOREIGN MINISTER GEBRAN BASSIL, ARRIVING AT PROTEST
- Embargoed: 26th October 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAAPZW9UZO4DRJT4O8EW03IIAGZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Lebanese rallied near the presidential palace on Sunday (October 11) in a show of support for Christian politician Michel Aoun, demanding that he fill the vacant presidency.
Waving the orange flag of Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), they packed streets in the Baabda district that houses the headquarters of the presidency which has been vacant for over a year due to political conflict.
The rally was called to mark events in October 1990, near the end of the Lebanese civil war, when the Syrian army captured Baabda and many Lebanese soldiers loyal to Aoun were killed. Aoun - head of one of two rival administrations at the time - was forced out of the presidential palace and later into exile.
"Today it is a stand after 25 years from people whose will is not broken, who still have the same power expressing and insisting firstly, the demands of a free country and secondly having their rights and the right to participate in the country," Lebanese Foreign Minister and head of FPM, Gebran Bassil said.
Aoun, an ally of the powerful Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah, has made clear he would like the presidency, but does not have the backing of a rival alliance led by Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri.
That alliance includes prominent Christian rivals to Aoun, notably his civil war enemy Samir Geagea, who also seeks the presidency.
"We want a president that can be a backbone for the resistance, a one that can not be bought and sold, a year and a half without a president is better for us, we saved gifts and travel expenses on the treasury, we want a president that represent the Lebanese Army, if you do not want Michel Aoun, there is Chamel Roukoz," Mirna Katerji, a FPM supporter said.
The presidency is set aside for a Maronite Christian but has been vacant due to a political crisis stoked by regional conflicts including the war in neighboring Syria.
"The president of the republic shouldn't be just any person who fills the post, as some people want him to be," Aoun told the crowd as his supporters shouted, "Aoun for president of the republic!"
"It should be someone who is like you, who reflects you and who rejects oppression and stands up for your rights," he said.
Aoun, who has argued that Christians are being politically marginalised, has said the president should be elected in a popular vote if parliament cannot agree.
Resolving the deadlock over the presidency has been complicated by regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia, which backs Hariri, and Iran, which backs Hezbollah.
"Our demands are like all the people, first we want a strong president and to be elected by the people, not by a particular party that bring one just to sit on the chair," protester, Louis said.
Aoun has taken aim at the national unity government led by Prime Minister Tammam Salam, saying it has usurped the powers of the presidency.
FPM ministers have not however quit the government.
Salam's government, formed with Saudi-Iranian blessing, has spared Lebanon a complete vacuum in the executive arm but has been unable to take any major decisions due to a lack of consensus.
Lebanon's political paralysis has fueled a broader wave of discontent that has touched off sometimes violent protests over failing public services in recent months. Anger has come to a head this summer over a crisis over trash disposal, leaving piles of refuse mounting on Beirut's streets. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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