France urges Lebanese to put their country’s interests 1st

French President Francois Hollande urged Lebanese to place their country’s interests above all others in the wake of the recent assassination of a top intelligence chief. In a letter to President Michel Sleiman, Hollande also offered his condolences over the death of Brig. Gen Wissam al-Hasan, who headed the police’s Information branch, and the victims of last week’s car bomb attack in the capital. According to Sleiman’s office, Hollande regarded the crime as aimed at destabilizing the country and paralyzing its institutions. Hollande’s letter was handed to Sleiman by French Minister of Francophone Affairs Yamina Benguigui who met with the president at Baabda Palace. The French president also urged Lebanese to place the interest of their country above all to protect it from attempts to destabilize it from by any party. Hollande also reiterated his country’s continued commitment and support to Lebanon's stability, independence and sovereignty. Last week’s car bomb, estimated to have contained 50 kilograms of TNT, ripped through a neighborhood in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, killing at least three people including Hasan and wounded over 100. The bomb, the first of its magnitude since 2008, plunged the country into a political deadlock with the opposition March 14 coalition demanding the formation of a “neutral salvation government.” The opposition has blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad for the killing and accused Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government of providing the necessary cover for the crime. Mikati has offered to resign and has given Sleiman time to consult with the members of the National Dialogue committee to decide the fate of the current Cabinet. At the Presidential Palace, Sleiman met with Mikati after the latter’s return from Hajj in Saudi Arabia, according to the statement. No further details were released about their meeting. From: The Daily Star