Miqati: Warrants to Be Issued against Violators of Security, Airport Road Won’t Be Blocked Again
Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Thursday the importance of national unity during the current tense security situation in Lebanon.
He told reporters after the national dialogue session: “Arrest warrants will be issued against those who violated security in Lebanon and the airport road will not be blocked again.”
“Yesterday’s developments will not be repeated again,” he said in reference to the blocking of the airport road and the kidnapping of the Syrian nationals in Lebanon by the Meqdad family military wing.
“Are yesterday’s developments a product of the government’s actions? Or are they a product of years of build up?” he wondered in response to criticism that the government had not assumed its responsibilities in maintaining security.
“Is it possible that the government is the one that is igniting the situation?” Miqati wondered.
“The case of the kidnapped Lebanese is being monitored. Issues have taken an abnormal course,” he noted.
“The situation is difficult and requires an extraordinary government,” stressed the premier.
“The army is performing its duties to the fullest as demonstrated by the reopening of roads shortly after being blocked,” he remarked.
“We have to remain positive,” he stressed.
On the abduction of Syrians and a Turkish national by the Meqdad clan, Miqati said: “I am in contact with the president, various security agencies, and concerned ministers over this issue.”
“We are hesitant in resorting to force because we fear for the lives of the captives,” explained the prime minister.
Al-Meqdad clan kidnapped on Wednesday over 20 Syrian nationals, who allegedly belong to the Free Syrian Army, in tit-for-tat kidnappings after the FSA detained Hassan Salim al-Meqdad earlier this week.
The family’s military wing warned that they can reach Aley, Tripoli and Iqlim al-Kharroub, saying that they have a bank of targets in Lebanon and capable of reaching regional targets.
On Tuesday, Hizbullah denied a video aired by al-Arabiya news channel claiming that the FSA detained a member of Hizbullah identified as Hassan Salim al-Meqdad.
The family of 39-year-old Hassan also ruled out that he is a member of the party, revealing that he works at Jammal Trust Bank and headed to Syria a year and a half ago to resolve some financial problems.
Several family members of 11 Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria closed the airport road over conflicting reports that the men were killed in a Syrian army raid on the town of Aazaz in the province of Aleppo.
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