Rifi Urges Miqati to 'Stop the Crime' in Tripoli or Leave
Former Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi on Sunday called on caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati to “raise the voice” to stop the deadly clashes in Tripoli or leave his post.
“We had previously warned the state's political and security officials over the dangerous situation that might arise from leaving things in Tripoli to the chaos of the weapons that were planted by the Syrian regime and its allies in the city,” Rifi said in a statement.
He accused Miqati of carrying on with the policy of “burying his head in the sand of this conspiracy, which is being implemented in cold blood and which has led to the death of hundreds of innocents, not to mention the wounded and the economic damage.”
“What are you waiting for, Mr. Prime Minister?” Rifi added, urging Miqati to go to Tripoli, “raise the voice and take the decision to stop this crime, or else Tripoli will not accept less than your departure, you and all the negligent security and political officials.”
The ex-ISF chief also condemned what he described as “the suspicious conduct of some security officials who are standing idly by in the face of the assault on Tripoli.”
“We will not stop following up on the case of the blasts that hit the al-Salam and al-Taqwa mosques. Our demand is justice and the bringing of the assailants and perpetrators to court to hold them accountable,” Rifi said.
“With the same insistence, we categorically reject the practices of shooting innocents in the legs,” Rifi added, referring to the recent attacks against Jabal Mohsen residents in central Tripoli.
Deadly clashes between the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen renewed on Sunday, leaving several people dead and dozens others wounded, after nine people were killed and at least 40 others were wounded overnight, including soldiers.
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