Suleiman Calls al-Shaar and Berri Advises Him to Return to Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman told the Mufti of Tripoli and the north Sheikh Malek al-Shaar on Friday that he is following up on the alleged threats the clergyman is receiving and that made him decide to extend his stay in Europe.

"I have been contacted by several officials advising me not to return to Lebanon,” al-Shaar told the Central News Agency, revealing that among the callers was Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

"I call upon the people of Tripoli to refrain from any acts of solidarity,” the Mufti said, adding that if they insist, their demonstrations must be civil.

Al-Shaar stated that there is an “intention to drag Tripoli into a Sunni-Alawite-Shiite conflict”, but said that “they will be responsible enough to prevent it and the good will win at the end”.

Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri advised al-Shaar to reconsider his decision of staying abroad, explaining that “the Mufti's presence and vision brings together opposing views in Tripoli”.

The northern Mufti also received phone calls from several Lebanese figures, among them were Prime Minister Najib Miqati, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the head of al-Mustaqbal bloc Fouad Saniora, and al-Mustaqbal MP Samir al-Jisr.

Al-Shaar announced on Wednesday that he will not be returning to Lebanon from a trip to Europe after he has allegedly received death threats.

VDL said al-Shaar was in Vienna but he will leave to Paris where he will reside until his return.

This news comes after clashes erupted in his city, Tripoli, between Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen leading to the death of seven people.

The clashes broke out over the weekend in wake of the announcement of the death of a number of Lebanese Islamist fighters, who mainly hail from the North, in the border region of Tall Kalakh in Syria on Friday.

Since Tuesday, 12 people have been killed in the northern city's clashes.