Jumblatt blasts Aoun at U.S. Embassy luncheon

Jumblatt blasts Aoun at U.S. Embassy luncheon PSP leader insists he fought the general during war 'for domestic reasons' By Therese Sfeir Daily Star staff Monday, May 30, 2005
BEIRUT: An argument erupted between Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun during a lunch held by U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman at the American Embassy in Awkar.
Speaking at the lunch, Aoun blamed the start of Lebanon's civil war on the presence here of Syrian troops and armed Palestinian factions, to which Jumblatt replied: "Internal disagreements led to the war and I fought against you for domestic reasons, not regional ones."
Jumblatt further stressed the need to bring about true reform and to build a country free of sectarianism.
Taking another dig at his rival Aoun, Jumblatt stressed the need to "stop talking about the country's 15-year civil war, turn the page and open the page of the future."
The lunch was attended by Democratic Renewal Movement President and Metn MP Nassib Lahoud, former Minister Fouad Siniora and opposition MPs Nayla Mouawad, Marwan Hamade and Ghattas Khoury.
The gathering was also attended by three American congressmen, John Sununu, Lindsey Graham and John McCain.
Jumblatt said any regional issue cannot be resolved before settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, highlighting the need to preserve Hizbullah's arms in order to stand up to any potential Israeli invasion.
Beirut MP Ghattas Khoury said the creation of non-sectarian political parties is the only way to bring about the establishment of national reform.
The U.S. congressmen and Feltman also met Saturday with Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Addressing the media after the meeting, U.S. Senator John McCain said: "We are here to congratulate the Lebanese people for the holding of free and fair parliamentary elections, away from foreign interference."
He added: "The Americans are watching the 'Cedar Revolution' and we assure you the United States is ready to support the Lebanese during this transitional period."
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator John Sununu visited the grave of former Premier Rafik Hariri in Beirut, while Senator Joseph Biden met with Hariri's family in Qoreitem to pay condolences.
The delegation leftBeirut Airport Sunday evening on a private jet.
Elsewhere, Biden attended a banquet held in his honor. Attendees included Feltman and MPs Nayla Mouawad, Nassib Lahoud, Mosbah Ahdab, Ghattas Khoury and Marwan Hamade.
Senator Biden, heading a second delegation of U.S. congressmen, met Sunday with Jumblatt and Feltman, before touring several polling stations in the capital to witness the first round of elections.
Regarding his meeting with Jumblatt, he said: "We talked about the elections and the re-establishment of democracy in Lebanon and Iraq."
In other developments, former UN Secretary General
and President of the International Francophone Committee charged with monitoring the Lebanese elections Butros Ghali met with Mikati, Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa and Tourism and Information Minister Charles Rizk.
Ghali said he hoped that after the elections, Lebanon would become a "stable and independent" country.
- Additional reporting by Maher Zeineddine