Naharnet

Miqati: No Political Party Can Consider Itself Not Responsible for Recent Developments

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Wednesday the importance of all concerned factions to support the army in its duties to maintain stability in Lebanon in light of the clashes in the northern city of Tripoli and the series of kidnappings that started last week.

His visitors quoted him as saying: “No political party can consider itself not responsible for the recent developments or their repercussions.”

He made his remark in an indirect reference to Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s statements that last week’s developments “were out of the party and AMAL’s control.”

“We will continue to assume our responsibilities until the conditions are appropriate to form an extraordinary government as stipulated during the last national dialogue session,” continued Miqati.

“Our priority now lies in averting strife,” he stated.

On the unrest, he voiced his fear over the “attempts to drag Lebanon more and more towards the crisis in Syria.”

“All powers are obligated to cooperate in order to keep Lebanon as far away from the regional unrest as possible,” he continued.

Commenting on Speaker Nabih Berri’s remarks that “Miqati does not want to govern,” the premier said: “Governing the country was never limited to the government.”

“As a partner, member of the government, and the head of the legislative authority in Lebanon, Berri is aware of the extent of the burden on my shoulders,” continued Miqati.

“I do not hesitate to take the right decision at the appropriate time,” he stressed.

Last week, al-Meqdad clan announced the formation of a previously unknown military wing after the Free Syrian Army allegedly abducted of Hassan Salim al-Meqdad in Damascus, prompting the kidnapping of Syrians in Lebanon said to be active in the FSA, and a Turkish national to press the release of Hassan.

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were also kidnapped in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on their way home from a pilgrimage to Iran on May 22.

Conflicting reports have emerged on their fate after Syrian government forces shelled the area of Aazaz where they were being held.


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