Suleiman Calls for Cooperation of Ministries in Takfiri Network Case

President Michel Suleiman called on Wednesday for the coordination of the defense, interior and telecommunications ministries to resolve the case of the extremist network that was planning attacks on the Lebanese army.

According to Information Minister Walid al-Daouq, Suleiman told the cabinet that convened at Baabda palace that “the army is the backbone of stability in the country.”

He condemned any attempt to attack it, saying the file has been referred to the competent judiciary.

Suleiman’s remarks came after top Fatah official in Lebanon Munir al-Maqdah said he would hold a meeting with the rest of Palestinian factions to hand over the head of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades accused of planning attacks on the Lebanese army.

In remarks to Ad-Diyar newspaper, al-Maqdah said that Abu Mohammed Toufiq Taha resides in the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon but his whereabouts are unknown.

But informed sources told As Safir daily that Abu Mohammed resides in the camp’s Hatteen neighborhood and moves inside the shantytown on a motorcycle.

According to al-Maqdah, there is consensus to hand over the suspect to the army after investigations revealed that he was heading a seven-member takfiri network reportedly planning attacks on the military school in al-Fayyadiyeh and other army bases.

“A Palestinian decision has been made to hand over Abu Mohammed Toufiq Taha to the Lebanese army,” he stressed.

As Safir said Tuesday that the army arrested 5 civilians and 2 soldiers who have admitted to plotting attacks under the guidance of Abu Mohammed.

A Palestinian security official at Ain el-Hilweh confirmed that the factions are holding consecutive and intensive meetings to find the suspect. “They have agreed to remove any cover from any person that tampers with the security of the camp and its surroundings,” he told As Safir.

The official also said that several wanted criminals were handed over to the Lebanese army in the past few weeks away from the media spotlight.

The news came after panic in Sidon over reports that the Lebanese army seized a pick-up smuggling arms. But An Nahar daily stressed Wednesday that the vehicle was transporting furniture and antiques, including old weapons, belonging to a doctor.

The military also arrested two people – a Palestinian and a Lebanese - after seizing a Soviet-era DShK machinegun from a vehicle.

But al-Maqdah stressed in his remarks to Ad-Diyar that the smuggling of the machinegun was linked to the trade of arms, hinting it was not linked to the alleged attacks planned by the takfiri network.