Security Situation Focus of 3rd Mustaqbal-Hizbullah Dialogue Session amid 'Clear Progress' in Discussions

Al-Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah announced about “clear progress” in the dialogue between them, and that it may lead to “results that help consolidate the nation stability.”

After the third dialogue session which took place on Friday in Ain al-Tineh the two parties discussed “ last week's political and security situation and the positive effect of the dialogue on it.”

Lebanese forces transferred on Monday detainees from block B where Islamists were being held after an investigation suggested that the recent suicide bombing in the northern city of Tripoli was directed from the facility, said al-Mashnouq.

The prisoners were transferred to block D, which has been renovated and has better security.

Last Saturday, two suicide bombers who hail from Tripoli's al-Mankoubeen targeted a packed cafe in Jabal Mohsen, killing nine and wounding 37 others.

In the last couple of days al-Mustaqbal officials spoke of some negativity in the dialogue. Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq annouced that “it's still too early to talk about any progress in the talks.”

Meanwhile, the chief of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora stated that “Hizbullah is not taking any actual step to achieve results from the dialogue.”

However, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a interview on al-Mayadeen TV that he is “very optimistic” about the dialogue session, raising the possibility of a “written agreement” which paves the way for a meeting between him and al-Mustaqbal chief Saad Hariri.

The first dialogue session between al-Mustaqbal and Hizbullah was held in Ain al-Tineh on December 23 under the auspices of Speaker Nabih Berri, and the second session was held on Jan. 5 with the objective of “defusing Sunni-Shiite tensions.”

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