BEIRUT, Jan 24 (KUNA) -- The head of Future Movement and former prime minister Saad Al-Hariri declared on Monday suspending his activities in the political arena and abstaining from nomination for the parliamentary elections due in May.
Al-Hariri, speaking at a news conference, called on other members of his family to follow his example and abstain from nomination for the polls -- apparently advising his brother Bahaa, eyed as possible successor to him at the political level.
"We will continue to serve our people and homeland but we have decided to suspend playing any role in the authority, in parliament or in politics in the conventional sense," Al-Hariri said.
He expressed his belief that Lebanon has no chance to progress in the shadow of an unclear policy from the international community toward the country, local divisions, deepening sectarianism and the crumbling of the state.
Al-Hariri had risen to the political podium after assassination of his father, also a former premier, Rafic Al-Hariri, a personality largely credited for rebuilding much of the country's infrastructure. heavily damaged during the 1975-1990 civil war fares. (end) kbs.rk