Political Posters Removed in Tripoli after Bin Salman Picture Torched
North Governor Judge Ramzi Nohra, Tripoli police commander Abdul Nasser Ghimrawi and a number of officers on Sunday carried out a campaign to remove political posters and banners from the northern city of Tripoli, after the torching of a poster of Saudi Arabia's crown prince sparked a war of words between Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and ex-justice minister Ashraf Rifi.
“At the request of Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, all political posters and banners were removed today in Tripoli,” Nohra said.
“Minister Mashnouq had issued strict instructions not to allow anyone to sow discord or tamper with the city's security,” he added.
“Tripoli is a red line and it belongs to its people and all citizens,” Nohra went on to say.
He stressed that the campaign will continue and that no one will be allowed to “defy the State” by hanging political posters and banners in the streets.
Rifi had tweeted on Saturday that “the torching of Prince Mohammed bin Salman's poster is deplored, premeditated and suspicious” and that “the culprit is well-known.”
“The Interior Ministry must arrest him without any delay to hold him accountable. This poster will remain raised in Tripoli because it represents the relation of historic friendship between Lebanon and the kingdom,” Rifi added.
“If you want to remove posters, you can start on the airport road, and when you reach Tripoli we'll talk,” the ex-minister said, addressing Mashnouq.
The interior minister had said: “We will pin Prince Mohammed bin Salman's posters on our chests, not on the streets to allow a spiteful person to torch them.”
The developments come amid high tensions in Lebanon and the region.
The tensions surged after Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation on November 4 in a surprising and pre-recorded statement from Saudi Arabia.
In a haltingly delivered address, Hariri accused Iran of meddling in Arab affairs and Iran-backed Hizbullah of holding Lebanon hostage. He also said he feared for his life.
In his absence, Lebanon has been awash with speculation the prime minister may be held against his will in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials have denied Hariri is under house arrest.
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