Al-Asir Supporters Hold Sit-In amid Heavy Security Deployment
The army deployed heavily on Friday in Abra in the southern city of Sidon as controversial Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and his supporters rallied after Friday's Muslim prayers to protest claims that Hizbullah rented apartments in the vicinity of his mosque in the town.
Al-Asir called on his supporters after the prayers to protest in the premises set by the security forces, urging them not to confront them.
Despite a decision taken by the Sub-Security Council of the South that al-Asir's protest should remain within the premises of Bilal bin Rabah's mosque, the Salafist cleric and his supporters went ahead with what he called a “peaceful” protest.
LBCI reported that the town of Abra was declared a military zone, saying that special permits need to be granted to anyone who wants to enter the town.
The protest ended calmly after al-Asir called on his supporters to head peacefully to the two apartments claimed to be owned by Hizbullah until the army detains the residents, the channel added.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told reporters after an extraordinary meeting for the Central Security Council that al-Asir was informed that it is forbidden to shake the security situation.
“We are living in a difficult security situation which has repercussions all over Lebanon,” Charbel pointed out.
The minister criticized the Salafist cleric saying that security forces will “deal with the appropriate measures with al-Asir and anyone else in Sidon who carries arms.”
Former head of Sidon's municipality Abdulrahman al-Bizri said in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that schools in Abra suspended classes over security fears.
Last week, the anti-Hizbullah Salafist cleric urged officials and authorities to force the evacuation of the apartments to avert a possible “strife or any dangerous incident.”
He claimed that “the mosque's neighbors, and we're among them, noticed some rented apartments that are inhabited by young men who are not residents of the area.”
Al-Bizri demanded in his comments to VDL officials to take a firm political stance to end the tension in the city.
“If the government is incapable of carrying out its duties it should step down... (Prime Minister Najib) Miqati's cabinet is unable to protect Sidon,” al-Bizri added.
For his part, Popular Nasserite Organization head Osama Saad called for calm in the city of Sidon and for relying on the security forces to resolve any provocative acts.
Saad called on figures in the city to lift the political cover off any person who carries out provocative acts in it.
Al-Liwaa newspaper reported that al-Asir wrote his will and revealed that he intends to “become a martyr to defend Sidon's dignity and its residents.”
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned during a televised speech on Wednesday that “some parties are pushing Lebanon in a very rapid manner to sectarian strife and working on that night and day and all the facts verify this issue.”
He pointed out that some statements and remarks by some Sunni MPs and clerics are taking a very provocative and seditious course.
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