Al-Rahi Urges Resumption of Dialogue, Formation of Cabinet Capable of Holding Polls on Time

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called on officials on Sunday to resume the national dialogue and form a government capable of holding the parliamentary elections on time and maintaining the country's security.

“Officials should realized the critical conditions the country is passing through after the cabinet resigned ,” al-Rahi said during a Palm Sunday mass at Bkirki.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati announced his resignation on Friday night in light of the cabinet's failure to approve the decisions to form of an authority to oversee the parliamentary elections and extend the term of Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi.

Reactions to Miqati's step were mixed with some sides calling for the formation of a salvation government and others condemning his step at such a critical time in the region and ahead of the parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for June 9.

Al-Rahi urged the political foes to resume the all-party talks and to form a new cabinet capable of carrying out elections on time.

Lebanon plunged in a political crisis in October after the opposition blamed the government for the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch chief Wissam al-Hasan.

The opposition boycotted dialogue despite President Michel Suleiman's extensive efforts to resume talks between the rival factions.

The last dialogue session was held on September 20.

Al-Rahi said that the cabinet should also be capable of controlling the security situation locally and along the border with neighboring country Syria.

“A government keen to safeguard the country and ensure that it's not a pathway for arms,” the Patriarch added.

Conflicting reports have emerged over whether Lebanese territory was hit in an airstrike by Syrian forces.

Suleiman instructed Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour on Tuesday to send a message of protest to the “Syrian side” so that such operations are not repeated.

He also condemned Syria for carrying out the "unacceptable" air strikes.

But Damascus, in its first comments on the attacks, denied it was involved.

Concerning the situation in the northern city of Tripoli, al-Rahi called on residents to end battles and reach common ground by disassociation the city from the developments in Syria.

Gunfight erupted in Tripoli when a soldier was wounded along with his brother after gunmen entered the state hospital in the area of al-Qobbeh and opened fire at him.

Tripoli has been witnessing deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of the Damascus regime for several years now.

The majority of Bab al-Tabbaneh residents are Sunni and back the revolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Jabal Mohsen's residents are mainly Alawites from Assad's sect.