Siniora: al-Qaeda remarks slander Future movement stances

The Head of the Future bloc MP Fouad Siniora said on Thursday that remarks about the presence of al-Qaeda members in Lebanon are false and irresponsible. Siniora stressed that such statements do not only intend to tarnish Lebanon’s reputation, but also slander the stances taken by the Future movement. Siniora added that [Lebanese] officials had better deploy troops nationwide instead of disseminating Minister Ghosn's allegations.

"Our stance is crystal clear regarding the return of the state and its authorities to all the Lebanese regions; no weapons, except that of the state, should exist", he said.

"When we say this, we do not go back on our main position against Israel," Sniora explained.

On the wage adjustment issue, Siniora deemed the related experience as "bad and painful." "It must be clear enough that the government is not entitled to violate legislations which determine the fields of an intervention by the government in a country where employers and employees enjoy the right to free contracting," Siniora said.

Speaking on Syria, Siniora did not fail to recall the necessity to maintain sound relations with this brotherly country.

"We seek ties with Syria built on the basis of mutual respect; our position is firm and unchanging," Siniora said.