Kataeb Calls on Tripoli Leaders to Fully Support Army

The Kataeb Party stressed on Monday the necessity of “solidarity with the army in order to consolidate sovereignty,” saying that this needs "political and national support by the leaders in Tripoli."

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting, Kataeb's political bureau stated that it “stands firmly by the people of Tripoli," calling for “their full protection and for urgently providing them with humanitarian assistance.”

The conferees expressed their "total solidarity with the army in this fateful war that it is leading to consolidate sovereignty and (the Lebanese) identity, in the face of the forces of darkness that are trying to implicate Lebanon in the chaos prevailing in the region.”

The leaders of Tripoli "refuse these takfiri calls and cling to the Lebanese values and principles and to Lebanon's civilizational role, as they stand by our armed forces in … their fight against terrorism,” Kataeb added.

It called for the implementation of the security plan that was devised for the city and for removing illegal weapons from Tripoli and the entire country.

Several troops and civilians were killed and scores others wounded in fierce clashes that started Friday and ended Monday morning in Tripoli and the nearby regions of al-Mhammara and Bhannine.

Separately, the party called for “the reformation of the political authority and regulating the work and balance of the institutions through the election of a new president.”

“This helps in overcoming this critical situation,” it added.

On the issue of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the party stressed the “importance of implementing the Council of Ministers' decision on stopping the reception of the displaced Syrians due to security reasons.”

Kataeb urged the government and its relevant ministries to “protect the Lebanese labor force and to prevent illegal competition”

The government has recently decided to strip every Syrian who visits their homeland of the refugee status.

The number of Syrian refugees has exceeded one million and a half, inflicting social, demographic and economic burdens on the country.

Z.A.

Y.R.