Suleiman Condemns Arsal Incident, Urges Armed Forces to Intensify Security Measures

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

President Michel Suleiman denounced on Friday the attack against security forces members in the border town of Arsal in eastern Lebanon, calling on armed forces to step up the security measures in the area.

“Whatever the reasons and the motives behind the incident... This act is never justified,” Suleiman said.

Twelve policemen were injured in the fighting that pitted Arsal residents against the security forces on Thursday over the transfer of an injured Syrian opposition fighter to Lebanon.

Suleiman demanded Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi to intensify investigations to pursue the suspects, fortify police checkpoints in the area in coordination with the army and to take all the necessary measures to prevent any recurrence.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported earlier that Lebanese army units made a heavy deployment in towns east of Baalbek and set up checkpoints.

According to the radio station, the ISF filed a lawsuit against head of Arsal Municipality Ali al-Hujeiri and anyone proven to have taken part in the incident.

Arsal residents have been aiding Syrian refugees crossing into Lebanon and the town has become an escape route for families fleeing the fighting in their country.

Several people have been killed and injured in the town in the past months after infiltration by Syrian troops and clashes.

Comments 3
Default-user-icon soft targets vs hard targets (Guest) 02 November 2012, 15:22

lets send in the security forces into dahieh ( as in the past ) and lets see if sleiman and the government have the same response and determination to "resistance".

Default-user-icon Khashto Bozkanja (Guest) 02 November 2012, 15:45

March 14, I, like only you, stand 100% behind our president. And I, like you, strongly condemn the Arsal incident. And I know that you, like me, are going to amass your elite forces of well trained and superbly equipped snake-head eating long-bearded cucarachas and send them on a mission to Arsal to make sure such incidents will never happen again. March 14, my compatriots, I, like you, proudly scream: Lebanon First. Now is the time to prove it. So get these elite forces ready, get them set and let them go, go, go, go, go warriors. We stand behind our president 100% and more. God bless Lebanon First.

Default-user-icon Brusso (Guest) 03 November 2012, 03:39

Naharnet, what's going on with you, guys and dolls? Is the comments database full or have you limited the rights to comment only to the bright minds of March 14 of the likes of slash, gabby, peace, allouchi and thepatriot, to name a few? Let us know, buddies.