Tripoli Security Meeting Urges Army to Restore Calm 'by All Means Necessary'
A meeting held Thursday at Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s residence in Tripoli urged the army to restore security in the areas of the clashes “by all means necessary,” stressing that “the jeopardizing of civil peace in Tripoli and entire Lebanon will not be tolerated.”
The conferees “discussed the means to find a radical solution to this dilemma that has become a threat to civil peace in Tripoli and across Lebanon,” said a statement released by Miqati’s office.
The deadly clashes between the rival districts of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh “cannot be tolerated, especially after all the initiatives and peaceful calls to stop the cycle of violence,” said the statement.
The conferees said they will maintain their contacts, hailing “the role of the army and security chiefs” and urging them to “restore security by all means necessary and arrest any shooter.”
They also called on the judiciary to “perform its duties by issuing arrest warrants for violators” and asked the Higher Relief Commission to pay compensations to “the families of the martyrs and wounded” and to those whose properties were damaged during the fighting.
The conferees asked Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Malek al-Shaar, who was present at the meeting, to launch an initiative aimed at “bridging differences, consolidating coexistence and completing the reconciliation process that started in 2009.”
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Miqati noted that “the political cover for the army is permanent and the army is performing its role.”
The premier stressed that “none of the conferees tried to defend any violator in Tripoli.”
He said the meeting was not attended by representatives of Jabal Mohsen but noted that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel will hold contacts with the Arab Democratic Party.
“We can say that the situation is stable in Tripoli and we are exerting utmost efforts to protect Tripoli from violence,” Miqati added.
Ten people were killed and more than 80 wounded in four days of fighting between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh.
Relative calm returned on Thursday as the army deployed heavily in the two neighborhoods.
Source: Naharnet
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