Jisr Quoting Ghosn: I Did Not Say that al-Qaida Had Infiltrated Arsal
A parliamentary committee grilled Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn on Monday over the controversy that erupted after he alleged that members of al-Qaida were entering the eastern border town of Arsal under the guise of Syrian opposition activists.
MTV quoted Ghosn as telling the meeting of the defense, interior and municipalities committee that he didn't intend to say that al-Qaida has a presence in Arsal.
The head of the committee MP Samir al-Jisr said after the meeting: “Ghosn did not mean to say that Arsal had been infiltrated. He instead meant that the border with Syria had been breached.”
He did not say that Arsal had harbored terrorists, adding that he obtained the information from the army.
We "are seeking to hear Minister Ghosn after his latest statement left an impact on the security, political and even economic levels,” Jisr, told An Nahar daily in remarks published Monday.
The reactions to the minister’s remarks made the situation worse, the Tripoli lawmaker said about contradictory statements made by different officials and politicians about al-Qaida's alleged presence in Lebanon.
“What’s important for us is to know whether he has evidence and what were the reasons behind stirring the issue in public,” al-Jisr told the newspaper.
“The committee is not seeking to hold the minister accountable,” he stressed, saying that it is its “duty to listen to him over such sensitive and important issues.”
Ghosn attended the meeting but the minister refused to make any comment to An Nahar ahead of the session.
According to As Safir newspaper, the March 14-led opposition lawmakers are preparing to “launch a violent (verbal) attack” on Ghosn and the March 8 MPs are getting ready to defend him.
“This indicates that there will be a heated debate,” it said.
The March 14 deputies could try to turn the committee’s meeting into an official inquiry and seek to subject the minister to a vote of confidence, al-Liwaa daily said.
MPs from both the opposition Lebanese Forces and al-Mustaqbal blocs had hinted that they would take such a move.
But any attempt to subject Ghosn to a vote of confidence requires a parliamentary session, al-Liwaa said.
LF MP George Adwan said after attending the meeting that the minister didn’t discuss the details of his claims about al-Qaida.
Phalange lawmaker Sami Gemayel also said that the cabinet should tackle the issue.
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