Charbel Slams Ghosn, Denies al-Qaida Exists in Lebanon

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed on Saturday that the Lebanese authorities didn’t find any evidence proof that al-Qaida exists in Lebanon.

“If anyone had any information then they should inform us about it in order to traxk down these groups,” Charbel told al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn reiterated during an interview on Thursday that al-Qaida exists in Lebanon.

He pointed out the threats targeting Lebanon, warning of the return of assassinations in the country.

Charbel slammed Ghosn for his statements, challenging him to “present any information he has on al-Qaida.”

Bashar al-Jaafari, Syria’s U.N. envoy, addressed a letter to the U.N. Security Council claiming that al-Qaida and the Muslim Brotherhood are involved in incidents along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

The letter claims that “arms depots” have been created in Lebanon’s border areas, noting that the alleged weapons are being shipped “by sea or on planes belonging to certain countries, which are shipping arms to Lebanon with the aim of smuggling them into Syria.”