Strong Lebanon Bloc Slams Libya Flag Incident, Throws Support behind Hariri
The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc on Tuesday condemned the removal of a Libya flag in Beirut at the hands of AMAL Movement supporters, saying that it “rejects any act that contravenes state authority because it would not be in Lebanon's interest.”
“We stress the importance of the (Arab economic) summit given its impact on Lebanon's image and its Arab and international standing,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc's weekly meeting.
“The cause of Imam Moussa al-Sadr is among our priorities and we consider him one of the pillars of national unity,” Kanaan added, noting that “the summit is not a challenge against anyone.”
“Let's compete over who brings projects to strengthen the economy instead of fighting over who raised a flag or who brought it down,” the MP went on to say.
AMAL supporters had on Sunday removed a Libyan flag near the summit's venue in Beirut to protest Libya's participation in connection with the Sadr case. Libya eventually withdrew from the summit in protest at the “insult” against its flag.
Turning to the stalled government formation process, Kanaan said the bloc “stands by” Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.
“We hope everyone will also support him so that we reach a government and what's needed is to break the deadlock for the sake of Lebanon and the regularity of institutional work,” he added.
“We will seek to have a government as soon as possible and we throw our support behind the PM-designate and ask him for a bigger effort,” Kanaan went on to say.
Source: Naharnet
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