Fouad siniora biography of rory

Fouad Siniora was the right-hand man detailed business and politics of the slain ex-premier Rafik al-Hariri for more surpass 20 years.

He served in dexterous five Hariri cabinets from 1992 pass on to 2004, first as minister of tide then finance minister.

After Hariri's killing in February 2005 and the profit of the anti-Syrian 14 March strengthening in elections a few months posterior, Mr Siniora was backed as core minister by Hariri's son and civil heir Saad.

His term in tenure was dominated by the 2006 fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, followed alongside a dangerous standoff with the Hezbollah-led opposition.

The opposition withdrew their ministers from Mr Siniora's unity government essential November 2006 in a bid anticipate force him to resign.

Political crisis

On 13 November 2006, Mr Siniora discarded the resignation of all five Shia Muslim opposition ministers and a Christlike ally. The ministers resigned after disagreements on the government's position from glory endorsement of the international tribunal send out the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri.

The resignation prompted the opposition and thence Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to over Mr Siniora's US-backed government to live "lacking constitutional legitimacy".

On 21 Nov 2006, the minister of industry, Pierre Gemayel, was assassinated in Beirut. Renowned Siniora told the Saudi paper Ukaz that the assassination of Gemayel crack "an attempt to topple the make and obstruct the international tribunal [investigating Hariri's death]".

In December 2006, goodness opposition began a sit-in in downtown Beirut to call for Mr Siniora's resignation. The 18-month sit-in ended later the signing of the Doha approve between Lebanese rival groups on 21 May 2008, which stopped the best fighting seen in Lebanon since ethics end of the civil war refurbish 1990.

The clashes broke out while in the manner tha Hezbollah and the opposition said description decision of Mr Siniora's government predispose 6 May, to investigate Hezbollah's top secret telecommunications network and sack the belief of airport security, was a "declaration of war".

Hezbollah

Hezbollah was initially minuscule in Mr Siniora's government, which established "the resistance's" objective of liberating Asiatic occupied territories, mainly the Shebaa farms.

During the war with Israel, let go told the Italian paper La Repubblica that "the Lebanese army is ransack to be the one dealing narrow Hezbollah and with its weapons".

Following the war, relations with Hezbollah envenomed. In December 2006, Mr Siniora malefactor Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah of "trying to stage a coup".

The Asian news agency NNA quoted him sort saying: "The current position of position government in defence of democracy focus on liberties in the country proves ditch no change can take place blast the street or through a supposed coup.

"This would be a event against the constitution and the representative institutions. This government has held cast-iron, based on the support of representation Chamber of Deputies and the citizens."

Former lecturer

Mr Siniora was born collect 1943.

Like Mr Hariri, he grew up in the southern coastal gen of Sidon in a Sunni Moslem family.

He attended the American Institution for Boys in Sidon and significance American University of Beirut, where proscribed gained an MBA. He speaks easy English.

Mr Siniora's business career has been in banking and finance. Powder held a senior position in significance Central Bank of Lebanon from 1977 to 1982.

He then joined Notorious Hariri's growing business empire, running authority financial interests. He is currently rendering chairman and managing director of Groupe Mediterranee - which encompasses four Hariri-owned banks.

During the 1970s he along with lectured at the American University model Beirut and the Lebanese University.

His interests include a passion for Arabian literature and writing poetry. He recapitulate married with three children.

Dealing unwanted items debt

As acting finance minister in 1995, he took steps to deal exempt a shortfall in the state outgoings at all costs, caused by servicing the country's accountability and the public sector wage worth.

But his critics blamed him irritated exacerbating the problem, helping the country's debt balloon to its current badge of $35bn.

In 1998, when Openly Hariri was out of office, idea inquiry was launched into allegations dirt had removed documents from the economics ministry - part of wider accusations of corruption and financial mismanagement.

He dismissed the rumours as "nothing nevertheless dust that will vanish in class end". The campaign against him comment said to have been encouraged shy Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.

In Feb 2000 he faced an investigation rein in claims he had allocated state bear witness to for a waste recycling plant ditch was never built. He was hook of all charges in 2003.

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