'Sanctities disrespected' in joint committees session

Kataeb party leader Sami Gemayel asked Parliament Speaker to act after "sanctities were disrespected" in a joint committees session on Tuesday.

"What happened could have pushed the country to a dangerous place," Gemayel said, as he vaguely accused Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil, without naming him, of losing his temper during the session.

Reporters who heard shouting, slurs and banging on tables asked Gemayel to give details but the latter refused, saying that the session was recorded and calling for the release of the recordings.

Gemayel said he puts the matters in Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's hands, asking him to take a stance to correct what happened.

"If Berri accepts it, that would be a big problem but if it's a personal incident, we are ready to put it behind us," Gemayel said.

Khalil for his part said that some MPs have crossed their limits and that it was necessary to respond, blaming Gemayel for the verbal clash.

"We will not accept to be dragged into divisive rhetoric," Khalil said, adding that he does not regret what he said.

Al-Jadeed TV later reported that Berri held phone talks with Gemayel after the latter’s remarks and that Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab held separate meetings with Gemayel and Khalil.