Asir to Hold Rally on Sunday as Charbel Warns against Appearance of Any Gunmen in Sidon
Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir is scheduled to stage a rally in the southern city of Sidon on Sunday, reported Ad Diyar newspaper on Saturday.
It said that the protest will be held to commemorate those killed during the recent unrest in the city.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel warned to Ad Diyar the demonstrators against blocking the highway leading to southern Lebanon.
He also warned against the appearance of gunmen on the streets of the city.
“A peaceful demonstration does not lead to any blocking of roads or the deployment of gunmen,” he explained.
The army and security forces will deploy heavily in the city to prevent any unrest, he stressed.
“Anyone brandishing arms will be arrested and we will not allow anyone to tamper with civil peace,” declared Charbel.
A clash broke out on Sunday between Asir and Hizbullah supporters in November.
Two of Asir's companions and an Egyptian national died in the unrest that was a product of sectarian tensions in Sidon.
The Army Command had previously warned that its troops will deal “firmly and forcefully with any gunmen who appear on the streets regardless of their affiliation.”
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