By Xinhua
Beirut : Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman, consensus candidate for Lebanese presidency, has informed the military council that he will leave his army command at the end of his term on Aug. 21, local As Safir daily reported Thursday.
In an interview to As Safir published Thursday, Suleiman said he was fed up due to continuous arguments over his consensus candidacy.
“I was offered by Arab and foreign diplomats to find a way to prolong my command. My answer was final: I do not intend to expand my term,” Suleiman said.
“I have completed my duty by preserving the military institution during the most difficult times,” the army commander said, adding that the Lebanese army succeeds in “resisting the occupation, confronting terrorism, and preserving internal peace and stability.”
“I have accepted to be a consensus candidate to serve my country, but I will not be an obstacle if another candidate was agreed on,” Suleiman said.
Lebanon is facing the most complicated political crisis since 1975-1990 civil war. Lebanese political rival groups were unable to achieve a breakthrough to elect a new president for the country, which has been without a president since Nov. 24 when ex-president Lahoud ended his term.
Lebanese leaders agreed on Suleiman as a consensus candidate, but could not agree on the shape of the new government or the new election law.
Arab League issued an three-point initiative in Cairo on Jan. 6,calling for the immediate election of Army commander Michel Suleiman as president, the formation of a national unity government, and the adoption of a new election law.