Miqati Meets Ghosn, Charbel, Urges Tripoli Residents to Avoid Being Dragged towards Strife

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati condemned on Monday the renewal of clashes in the northern city of Tripoli, calling on all sides to cooperate with security forces to halt the unrest.

He urged “the residents against being dragged towards the strife some sides are seeking to ignite in Tripoli.”

He made his remarks after holding talks at the Grand Serail with caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

“The Lebanese army and security forces must firmly deal with any sides tampering with the city's security,” continued the caretaker premier.

“Tripoli is once again destined to be exploited for delivering political and security messages to more than one side,” lamented Miqati.

He called on security forces to arrest the assailants, regardless of their affiliations, and respond to the sources of gunfire that are targeting residents in their homes and on the streets.

“The residents have paid heavy prices and we must now cooperate to save the city,” he declared.

Moreover, PM-designate Tammam Salam held a telephone conversation with Miqati expressing concern over the latest security breakouts in Tripoli.

Salam voiced hopes that peace prevails in the northern city to reassure its people and achieve civil peace.

Miqati later telephoned Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji to discuss the army measures aimed at tackling the situation in Tripoli.

The caretaker premier stressed that the army has the full support of the political authority, cabinet, and Tripoli leaderships.

A new round of clashes erupted in Tripoli over the weekend, leaving at least two people dead.

The gunbattles between rival neighborhoods the majority Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, whose residents are from the Alawite sect of Syrian President Bashar Assad, left on Sunday two people dead and at least 26 injured.

Tripoli has seen repeated clashes between Sunnis and Alawites.

In March, at least five people were killed and 26 others were wounded, including army troops, in gunbattles between the rival neighborhoods.