Miqati Says Army Has Powers to Contain Disorder in Baalbek as City Figures Stress on Preventing Strife

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati assured on Saturday that all necessary measures to contain the recent clashes in the Bekaa city of Baalbek were adopted, stressing also that the army has the powers to prevent disorder.

“We will prevent any presence of armed men in the city and we will be strict in prosecuting those involved in the incident,” Miqati said in a released statement after taking part in an emergency security meeting held at the Baabda Palace.

He continued: “We will also prevent attempts looking to transform these clashes into sectarian strife and the expansion of the fighting over other regions in the country.”

Miqati stressed that the Lebanese Armed Forces possess “full powers” to control the situation and apply the necessary measures and procedures to draw an end to disorder, restore calm in Baalbek and to be strict with all outlaws.

He urged the residents and the leaders of Baalbek to “be responsible and to immunize the city against the dangers some parties are trying to create.”

Miqati's statement came after an emergency security meeting took place at Baabda Palace to tackle the latest clashes in Baalbek.

The meeting was chaired by President Michel Suleiman and in addition to Miqati, it was attended by caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and several military and security officials.

“Instructions were given to adopt strict security measures to control the situation in the Bekaa city, to prevent disturbing public order and to preserve civil peace in these delicate times,” the state-run National News Agency said after the talks.

“The conferees also called for arresting the outlaws and referring them to the military court,” the NNA added.

Meanwhile, prominent figures in Baalbek held an emergency meeting also on Saturday to discuss the deadly clashes in the area.

Chaired by Mufti of Baalbek and al-Hermel Sheikh Bakr al-Rifai, the meeting called on the residents of Baalbek to allow the state's forces to preserve security in the city, assuring also that the clash “would not be erupt into strife.”

“We call on Baalbek's families to adopt a peaceful approach and to allow security forces to preserve security in the city,” a statement released after the meeting said.

It added: “We also urge the Internal Security Forces and the army to preserve security and protect citizens, their possessions and their businesses.”

The conferees stressed that Baalbek “is free of any Al-Nusra Front members.”

“What media outlets are sharing is not true and those promoting such rumors must be held accountable. This is an individual incident and what happened harms the city, its history, and its future.”

The statement remarked: “Baalbek will remain a city of religious coexistence and we will all collaborate to contain what happened and to prevent its eruption into a blind strife.”

In a related matter, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri telephoned Suleiman to discuss the clashes, stressing on the need to contain the fighting.

Five people were killed in Baalbek and several shops were set ablaze on Saturday in clashes between supporters of Hizbullah and armed men of the Shiyyah clan.

The unrest broke out when youths from the Shiyyah clan opened fire at Hizbullah members in the market, reported NNA. The party members fired back, resulting in the ensuing clashes.

The army has since deployed in the area.

The bloodshed is the worst sectarian violence to hit Baalbek and it was the second clash in the city since Wednesday involving Hizbullah and Sunni gunmen.