Mashnouq: Cabinet Must Assume its Responsibilities in Tackling Security Situation
A security plan for various regions in Lebanon was addressed during a Defense Ministry meeting attended by Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and various heads of security agencies on Monday, reported An Nahar daily on Tuesday.
Mashnouq told the daily: “The gatherers tackled a balanced and fair security plan that we will propose before the Higher Defense Council ahead of referring it to cabinet for approval.”
“We devised the plan and the government should assume its responsibilities over the matter,” he added.
“We have no choice. We should either wait for the Syrian conflict to reach our homes or take the measures to halt its spread at the border,” he remarked.
The Defense Ministry meeting addressed the security situation in the northern city of Tripoli, the Bekaa regions of Brital, Arsal, and al-Nabit Sheet, as well as Beirut, reported An Nahar.
“The army, security forces, and General Security all act as one and hold one responsibility” towards security, continued Mashnouq.
“They all share the responsibility together,” he stressed.
President Michel Suleiman meanwhile called on the Higher Defense Council to convene at the Baabda Palace at 6:00 pm on Tuesday.
Calm had been restored in Tripoli following 12 days of clashes between the rival neighborhoods Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, but tensions remain high.
Twenty-seven people were killed and at least 130 were wounded in the latest round of unrest that was sparked by the death of a resident of Jabal Mohsen after he was shot at by unknown assailants.
The clashes in the city have grown in frequency since the eruption of the uprising in Syria in March 2011.
The Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood backs the Syrian rebels, while the Jabal Mohsen area supports the country's ruling regime.
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