Lebanon minister quits over 'Hezbollah domination'

22/02/2016| IslamWeb

Lebanon's justice minister says he is resigning over what he calls Hezbollah's "domination" of the country's government.

Ashraf Rifi's announcement on Sunday came two days after Saudi Arabia announced it was suspending $3bn in aid to Lebanon's army in protest against "hostile" positions it said were inspired by Hezbollah.

"There is an armed party that is dominating the government's decision," Rifi, a fierce opponent of Hezbollah, said in a statement, referring to the Shia group, which is represented in Lebanon's parliament but also maintains a powerful military wing.

"Hezbollah has used this government to consolidate its project of a mini-state. It wanted to use it as a tool to extend its control over the state and its decisions," AFP news agency reported Rifi as saying.

"I will not accept becoming false witness and covering for those trying to dominate the state and its institutions ... that is why I am presenting my resignation."
Without president

Rifi accused Hezbollah of being responsible for the political crisis in Lebanon that has left the country without a president for the last 21 months.
He also said the Iranian-backed Hezbollah was "destroying Lebanon's relations with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia".

Lebanon's political scene is deeply divided, with the government split roughly between a bloc led by Hezbollah and another, the March 14 alliance, headed by former prime minister Saad Hariri, to which Rifi belongs.

The March 14 alliance held a meeting later on Sunday and issued a statement warning that Hezbollah's stand would affect thousands of Lebanese families who live and work in the Arab Gulf countries.

"We refuse to turn Lebanon into a base to be used for animosity of Arab states or to interfere in their internal affairs," said the statement read by Fouad Siniora, former prime minister.

March 14 also called on Hezbollah to withdraw from Syria, where it has sent fighters to back the regime against Syrian people.
Hezbollah is a close ally of the Syrian regime, and is backed by Iran.

PHOTO CAPTION

Lebanon's Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi speaks in his office in Beirut in this May 8, 2014 file photo

Al-Jazeera