Charbel Optimistic on Ending Asir’s Sit-in Peacefully
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Saturday he was personally taking charge of negotiations with Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir to persuade him into ending the sit-in that he launched in the southern city of Sidon earlier in the week.
In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) and As Safir daily, Charbel said he was personally negotiating with the Imam of Sidon's Bilal bin Rabah mosque to end the sit-it after al-Asir defied calls by the leaders of the city to reopen the highway and said he will keep his supporters on the road pending a solution to Hizbullah’s arms.
The interior minister also told An Nahar newspaper that he understands al-Asir’s demands but “he knows that the issue of arms is being discussed at the (national) dialogue table.”
“I am optimistic that the issue will be resolved with Sheikh al-Asir soon,” Charbel said.
A security source told As Safir that a security solution to the sit-in that has obstructed transportation in Sidon is the last resort, but did not set a timeline for any forceful opening of the road.
Political negotiations to end the crisis are ongoing and could lead to the expected result, the source said.
No one is against the right to hold a protest as a peaceful and a civilized way of expression but at the same time no one has the right to obstruct the people’s lives, he added.
A security source also told An Nahar that the Lebanese army doesn’t interfere in such cases and it is up to the Internal Security Forces to end the sit-in.
But if there was a clash, then the army could support security forces in resolving the dispute, the source said.
The ISF took extra measures in the area of the sit-in and the roads that lead to it on Friday.
The army also reinforced its presence in Sidon’s entrance, conducting patrols at the Awali bridge area and the seafront Corniche after reports that al-Asir could move his sit-in to Riyad al-Solh street near the stadium, which has remained the only main road open for traffic.
30 June 2012, 08:54
00
charbel is protecting a criminal and he understands him:):) Why take action towards those whom burn tires and block roads in beirut with iron fist, while not take action towards a criminal cherbel? Cherbel, you cannot say that you understand the criminal, they you are biased in security regards?
30 June 2012, 09:05
02
this sit in should end.
it reminds me of the sit in conducted by m8 downtown and how it interrupted people's lives. they are much of the same: extremists.
such behavior should not be tolerated whatever the reason.
however, this is not an excuse to hizbushaitan that created such a situation through its actions.
30 June 2012, 10:58
00
No geha this Shiekh is a brave man and it is about time someone is standing up to Hizb Iran they dont own Lebanon,the only weapons in Lebanon should be with the army.Shiekh Asir keep up the good work buddy ..
30 June 2012, 11:41
03
How long did they stay down-town with their tents? Wasn't it something like 18 months? Screwing up the local economy? So are there two sets of rules? Is it only HA that is above the law? I'm not against Shaikh Assir's sit-in if and only if it does give a sample of what it would be like if everyone acts like hezbollah. By sample, it's short term.
30 June 2012, 12:02
00
in order to prepare the ground for next elections all what is going on goes in this direction , so after the relative containement of the north problem someone else should do something to cook the summer season and gulf countries barred lebanon in summer for tourists and there comes Asir's role
god bless lebanon and protect him
first from el fij3annine
30 June 2012, 13:55
21
There was also a demonstration on March 14, that's how you got your new party name and made a new flag of your own
30 June 2012, 13:57
11
Recall 'yawm al ghadab' when 14 march supporters demonstrated peacefully...when the thugs started to riot in the streets like idiots in Cola area, Beirut and Tripoli
30 June 2012, 14:57
01
This peaceful sit-in has a sectarian color to that is antagonizing, divisive, distructive, disturbiing, and ill timed.
30 June 2012, 16:58
10
When the " exclusive representatives of Allah " clash disaster always follows.
30 June 2012, 17:21
00
because garbage asir is a direct result of garbage faqih, asir is part of a solution.....every desease needs desinfectant,or antidote
30 June 2012, 17:46
00
Send in the firetrucks with plenty of water and soap. The stench is killing me. Washing 5 times a day is not enough for these pest-infested bearded Sunni crazies. They should stay in under water forever.
30 June 2012, 18:28
00
the tanks has to pass by mr faqih b4 reaching mr wahhab,no other way, asir is part of a solution..ask charbel.i dont care if u pass the comment, THAT IS THE WAY IT WILL BE.
30 June 2012, 19:24
00
It is time to eject all religious fanatics out of Lebanon and see how fast ts will calm down. Religion is what is destroying Lebanon.
30 June 2012, 19:26
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Why does an admin have to approve my comment. Admins are pro m14 and therefore they are biased. What happened to freespeech?
01 July 2012, 02:21
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All of these sit-in were started by the March 14....how quick some ppl forget the Cedar Revolution
01 July 2012, 03:08
00
the middle east keeps on getting backwards at the speed of light
01 July 2012, 03:13
00
this illiterate idiot, Al-Asir, thinks that a toy gun that says in English: "Go Go Go pull over and save the hostages"... he thinks it says in Arabic: "Udrub al-Sayyida Aisha"... and that Shiites in Iran designed this toy gun to brainwash Sunnis that Aisha should be hit or beaten...
This is the guy...really!!!!!!!!!!!
11 July 2012, 13:27
00
No matter how long they block roads ..
Hezbollah will never give up there weapons to that coward. Those weapons that you's want taken protected Lebanon.. After the 2006 war were the only ones that stopped Israel from invading a country.. Hezbollah raised Lebanon head up after they won the war..
Hezbollah till death
