The power struggle within the splintered Phalange Party, Lebanon's one-time standard-bearer of the Christian community, has spilled over to involve Solange Gemayel, the widely revered wife of slain president-elect Bashir Gemayel.
Mrs. Gemayel has openly denounced Karim Pakradouni as the Katayeb's "imposed by force" leader, virtually calling him an imposter who betrayed the real Phalange values that her husband fought for during his lifetime.

A statement from her press office outlined these values as primarily the sovereignty, independence and freedom of Lebanon across its entire 10,452-square kilometer territory, "free from all foreign armies and from any foreign influence."

The jab at his leadership came as Pakradouni demanded from Interior Minister Elias Murr to prevent ex-president Amin Gemayel, elder son of Phalange founder Pierre Gemayel, from speaking or holding rallies in the party's name.

In a letter to Murr, Pakradouni also asked that all offices established in Lebanon by the ex-president for a breakaway movement he called "Katayeb-Al Qaida" be closed after Pakradouni's leadership has formally sacked Amin Gemayel as Phalange member.

There was no immediate comment from the ex-President, elder brother of Bashir Gemayel, on Parkradouni's move. Nor there was any word on Murr's response.

Article from naharnet.com