Charbel Calls for Tripoli Reconciliation Conference
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has appealed for a reconciliation conference in the northern city of Tripoli to resolve the ongoing violence that has threatened to spiral out of control.
Al-Joumhouria quoted Charbel as saying on Tuesday that such a conference should bring together Tripoli's politicians, including lawmakers and ministers, and party leaders.
The city has for several years witnessed deadly clashes between Bab al-Tabbaneh district, which is largely Sunni and backs the revolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Jabal Mohsen, whose residents are from Assad's Alawite sect.
The fighting intensified after the revolt erupted against Assad in March 2011. But the violence in the past few days has taken a more ominous turn, spreading to include other parts of Tripoli as snipers took up positions on rooftops, and gunbattles and rocket fire raged out of control.
Charbel lamented that the city had “turned into a regional demarcation line which burns every time the Syrian battlefield goes on fire.”
He said the violence in Tripoli would neither reflect positively nor negatively on any of the warring parties in Syria. “There is only one result, which is more destruction and killing in Tripoli.”
“Everyone should be convinced that no one can abolish the other,” Charbel told al-Joumhouria.
He rejected the use of force against the fighters. “Innocent civilians will be the first victims, followed by military and security personnel.”
“Those urging the army or any other security agency to launch such a battle in residential neighborhoods don't understand the dangers lying behind such a move,” the caretaker minister said.
“In case of any political understanding, the army or security forces would be tasked with implementing the law,” he added.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/108237 |