Muallem Says Sidon Clashes Result of 'Secret' Decisions Taken in Doha

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Monday that the clashes in the Lebanese southern city of Sidon were the result of a "secret" plan to ramp up assistance to Syria's rebels.

“What's happening in Sidon in terms of terrorism and crimes is one of the results of the secret decisions taken in Doha,” al-Muallem told a press conference in Damascus.

On Saturday, Qatar said the Friends of Syria group had agreed on a "secret" plan to increase assistance to the rebels fighting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Top Qatari diplomat and host Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani said the meeting of the group's foreign ministers had taken "secret decisions about practical measures to change the situation on the ground.”

A final communique said "each country in its own way" would provide "urgently all the necessary materiel and equipment" so that the rebels could "counter brutal attacks by the regime and its allies and protect the Syrian people."

The clashes between the Lebanese army and the supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in Sidon, Lebanon's third-largest city some 40 kilometers south of Beirut, is the latest bout of violence linked to the conflict in Syria.

Al-Asir is a virulent critic of Hizbullah. He supports rebels fighting to oust Assad.

His gunmen have used machineguns and Rocket Propelled Grenades in the attack on Lebanese troops. It is not clear who is behind him and who has provided him with the heavy weapons.

“Since the beginning of the crisis we warned that the repercussions of the Syrian developments on the neighboring countries will be dangerous,” Muallem said.

“We don't want to interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs because its leaders are capable of making assessments,” he said.

“We hope victory for the Lebanese army,” the Syrian FM added.

Comments 15
Thumb EagleDawn 24 June 2013, 14:29

“What's happening in Sidon is one of the results of the secret decisions taken in Doha,” al-Muallem told a press conference in Damascus.

How did you know this was the result if the decisions were "secret"?

Missing antibiotic 24 June 2013, 14:34

Secret discussions from bashar their iranian gods & hezbal swine

Thumb benzona 24 June 2013, 14:39

LOL eagle. It's true, how would hé know?

Missing samiam 24 June 2013, 14:43

and I thought M8 were the ones that always used conspiracies as an excuse...

Missing samiam 24 June 2013, 14:44

missed adding <sarcasm> in case you missed it

Default-user-icon leb (Guest) 24 June 2013, 14:48

May Syria and Qatar burn down to the ground, and may they take all of these bearded animals with them.

Thumb eli-g 24 June 2013, 15:03

there is nothing secretive about the Doha meetings. they decided, and openly to supply the Syrian free army with more advanced weapons.

Thumb geha 24 June 2013, 15:24

Elie
hizbushaitan has awakened something we never had in Lebanon through their actions: sunni extremism.
now we are officially in civil war, once more, especially they gave these extremists their martyrs today.

Thumb LebCynic 24 June 2013, 16:54

Never had sunni extremism in Lebanon? We talking about the same Lebanon? As I recall my time in LAF in the late 70s-80s there were taw7id el islam in Tripoli trying to take jabal mohsen (unsuccessful I must add). Go read up on your history as most of your posts are nothing more than baseless propaganda.

Thumb benzona 24 June 2013, 15:16

If he did as you claim, then lebanon was very affordable. A bargain I may say!

You should look up the definition of terrorism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism

You'll notice that terrorists target civilians, al Qaïda, Hezbollah etc... Al Assir attacks the army. Not that it's any better or honourable, but he isn't a terrorist, he's resisting the terrorists controlling Lebanon today. Not the poor soldiers, but their commanders.

Default-user-icon leb (Guest) 24 June 2013, 15:23

You realize that numerous civilians were put in harms way and a civilian was killed yesterday too? What about his boys in Tripoli who are going around and intimidating shop owners and people with their Kalashnikovs? Dont bullshit yourself, they are terrorists. Hezbollah aren't any good either, but if we replace them with Salafis things wont get any better.

Thumb LebCynic 24 June 2013, 16:50

Yeah sure thing - he is a pillar among honorable men, thats the exact reason his hiding among civilians and using them as a shield or escaped like a coward. And I agree with you, he isnt a terrorist, his a terrorists puppet that does as his told by his KSA masters. Hopefully soon the families of the martyrs will soon celebrate Asir and his goons death I hope they will find comfort in knowing the blood of their sons wasn't spilled for nothing

Missing peace 24 June 2013, 15:28

waw! how can he know as it was "secret"? LOL!!!

Thumb lebanon_first 24 June 2013, 15:49

Moallem, I wouldnt be surprised if your boss assad the dog is financing assir to create strife in lebanon.

Default-user-icon Hadis (Guest) 24 June 2013, 17:01

The number of retarded commentators on here is off the charts haha
Like people who blame hezbollah who didn't and never fired of the army or civilians, and who didn't also fight assir knowing he can beat him easily. But see, diffrence is that hezbollah works upon tactics and actually gives a damn about lebanon.
Assir is targeting commanders? Then why is he shooting at regular soldiers and calling for defections?geha u fool, hezbollah never did similar actions that assir is doing, thus maintaining civil peace.
Assad is fighting the same gang in syria, are you telling me he is secretly friends and leader of salafi sunnis in lebanon? The same ones who want him out of power? Proves how retarded y'all are