Hariri: Saqr Tasked with Humanitarian, Media Support for Syrian People, Not 'Jihadist Duty'

Former prime minister Saad Hariri on Thursday noted that he had tasked MP Oqab Saqr with coordinating “humanitarian, political and media support” for the Syrian people, adding that he was not performing “a jihadist duty against the Syrian people.”

“In response to the defamation campaign against al-Mustaqbal Movement, accused by Hizbullah and its media outlets of engaging in the current conflict in Syria, and to the accusations against MP Oqab Saqr in particular, the Press Office of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri wants to clarify that … Saqr was assigned by Premier Saad Hariri to follow up on the situation in Syria and to coordinate with the political forces in the Syrian opposition regarding the media and political support of al-Mustaqbal Movement to the Syrian people," said a statement.

"MP Saqr is especially tasked with providing all possible humanitarian aid to the victims, including the wounded, the homeless and the orphans," the statement added.

"Saqr, by virtue of these contacts, is assigned to provide every humanitarian help to any Lebanese citizen in Syria, especially to contribute, with the Turkish authorities, in the efforts to secure the release of the Lebanese detained there, in addition to helping with known and unknown problems encountered by some journalists while performing their duty," said the statement.

Hariri's clarifications come after MP Ali al-Meqdad, member of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc, called on the former premier to "issue an official statement denying his involvement" in Saqr's alleged support and collaboration with the armed opposition in Syria.

U.S. newspaper The New York Times has recently quoted Syrian rebels based on the Syria-Turkey border as saying that Saqr was Riyadh's main supplier of weapons to the Syrian opposition.

Accusing Hizbullah of involvement in the Syrian conflict, Hariri said "the Lebanese -- Shiites, Sunnis and Christians -- know exactly, and this is announced by Hizbullah's leaders themselves, the nature of the party’s involvement in what they allegedly call 'jihadist duty' alongside the killer and oppressive regime."

"Nothing can cover up anymore this crime committed by Hizbullah ... especially because the party is fully aware that the days of its ally in Damascus are numbered," Hariri added.