Miqati, Qahwaji Vow to Prevent Appearance of Gunmen on Sidon Streets
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji said the security of the southern city of Sidon was a top priority after three people were killed in clashes between Hizbullah and supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir.
“Our responsibility lies in keeping the security of residents in all Lebanese regions and mainly in the city of Sidon,” Miqati told As Safir newspaper in remarks published Tuesday.
“There is a stern decision to control the situation and prevent the appearance of arms in Sidon to avoid tension,” he said. “We will work on the implementation of this decision immediately.
“Our permanent priority is stability … that's why there is no fear from strife,” Miqati added.
In similar remarks published in An Nahar, he said the appearance of gunmen during the funeral of two of al-Asir's bodyguards in Sidon on Monday “was exceptional and we will not witness it later.”
Armed supporters of al-Asir laid the two men to rest at al-Karama roundabout, the site of the month-long sit-in the cleric had held earlier this year.
Another Egyptian youth was killed after being caught in Sunday's crossfire when a quarrel on Hizbullah posters turned into an armed clash.
Qahwaji inspected on Tuesday the army units deployed in Sidon, after which he called on the heads of the military agencies to act "firmly against all who meddle with Sidon and the South's stability."
The army “will quash without hesitation any attempt by any team whether local or foreign to turn Sidon into a burning war zone,” he warned.
Qahwaji told As Safir that the military institution was putting the situation of Sidon at the top of the priority list.
“The army is carrying out its role and responsibilities to impose calm not just in Sidon but in all Lebanese regions,” he said. “That's why it … will confront strife no matter how much sacrifices it requires.”
13 November 2012, 08:40
69
He doesn't realize what he said. He wants to stabilize a bad situation? Our PM doesn't understand that everything has to change... not just in Sidon but in Dahye and everywhere else. Freezing things isn't a solution. Allah yi se3do.
13 November 2012, 16:42
02
WHY & Since WHEN? Does Lebanon have Salafists?
What happened to good ol fashioned Sunnies? Most Lebanese Sunnies live in cities on the coast; they have the highest rate of literacy & level of education throughout the Sunni Arab world.
Why is Sheikh Assir a somebody?!
13 November 2012, 08:44
10
yeah... and the pope is jewish... who is going to prevent it and with what army?
13 November 2012, 09:04
45
hek badu 7asson nasarlat, they killed 7ariri, al 7assan and every moderate suni out there, what do people expect ye3ni?? fight terror with terror, sadly so.
13 November 2012, 09:29
26
mikati is funnier by the day:
all his conceern is to cover up for the syrian regime and hizbushaitan!
hizbushaitan weapons are on all the strrets, and when others hold weapons to defend themselves, we see mikati crying fowl :)
remove the weapons of hizbushaitan and their cronies, then the others will have no reason to hold their weapons.
are we expected to accept the threat of hizbushaitan and not defend ourselves?
13 November 2012, 12:40
01
Those thugs dont belong in Lebanon ,they can either go to Iran or Yemen..
13 November 2012, 15:59
00
Armed criminals walking the streets of South Lebanon like these disgusting pig looking bearded salafists - WTF? Hizbollah didn't even roam the streets with weapons when they were at war with Israel. THis is disgraceful and just appalling. Where is the LAf. Wipe them out please. Enough is enough. We don;t want another Nahr El Bared. These suppoers of Assir as so-called holy man...eeeee tfeee 3ala hayk preachers..and the followers of Bahia Hariri the Witch.
13 November 2012, 18:32
01
it is a last friendly call to general qahwaji:
the arms of the lebanese army must be the only arms on the soil of the land..there is an imminent danger that wahaby arms will come to cancel the farsi ones,time is running out...hiwar of arms will benefit the extremists and the lebanese army must make the right move.GENERAL KAHWAJI, GOOD LUCK, U NEED IT.
