BEIRUT: The deputy head of Lebanon's top Sunni authority condemned attacks on the Army Monday, but called for the military to treat residents of all communities equally and free the country of "illegitimate" weapons.
“The council refuses all attempts to ... drag [Muslims] toward a confrontation with the Lebanese Army,” the Higher Islamic Council’s deputy head Omar Miskawi said at a news conference.
The council “stresses on the commitment to a strong, just state without discriminating between various areas or citizens,” he added.
Miskawi made the comments after a meeting called by Grand Mufti Abdul-Latif Derian to discuss the situation in Tripoli and north Lebanon in light of the fierce weekend clashes between the Army and militants.
“The council stresses on imposing the state’s authority and establishing its prestige, and enforcing the law ... on everybody in all Lebanese areas without exception,” the statement said.
The council, which is responsible for carrying out the affairs of Dar al-Fatwa, condemned the calls for defection from the Army by extremists.
Miskawi also spoke on the need to protect Tripoli’s heritage, its civilians and their property, and to quickly compensate them for losses during the deadly battle.
The recent events in the northern city are the result of “decades of negligence and lack of serious development,” he added.
This, the council said, should prompt the state to immediately start implementing a concrete action plan to revive Tripoli’s economy and develop social and health services.
At least 11 Army soldiers, 23 militants and eight civilians have been killed over four days of fighting in northern Lebanon since the clashes broke out late Friday.
The violence largely subsided Monday after soldiers took over Tripoli's Abdullah bin Masoud Mosque, which was being used as a headquarters by militants.
No comments:
Post a Comment