Al-Meqdad Clan Agrees to Suspend Sit-in Pending December 18 Trials
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel agreed on Thursday with al-Meqdad family members to suspend a sit-in in Beirut's southern suburbs until trials of their relatives kick off on December 18.
“The trials will not be delayed... We should act wisely,” Charbel told protesters, who blocked Hadi Nasrallah highway with tents and obstructed the two-lane highway with metal barriers and garbage containers to press forward the start of the trials.
“The judiciary will continue its investigations to reveal those who opened fire at the army” during raids in Beirut's southern suburbs to free abducted Syrians and Turks in August, Charbel told reporters at the scene of the sit-in.
“Our sons are not terrorists, they're innocent,” read banners held by the demonstrators.
“The country is passing through a delicate situation. We have to cooperate,” the minister said.
Earlier, Police chief Joseph al-Duweihi arrived at the site of al-Meqdad's sit-in to urge demonstrators to end their sit-in as Charbel held talks with members of al-Meqdad family in Rweiss.
The protesters had previously warned of an open-ended sit-in.
Media reports said that Military Tribunal Judge Imad al-Zain requested on November 8 the referral of 13 people, including 9 from al-Meqdad family, to the court to be tried over an abduction spree to avenge the kidnapping of Hassan al-Meqdad in Syria in August.
The 13 men are charged with forming an armed group to carry out terrorist acts, abducting Syrians and Turks, jeopardizing the civil, social and political situation, threatening military personnel and possessing illegal weapons.
In September, Zein issued arrest warrants against the suspects, including al-Meqdad clan spokesman Maher al-Meqdad.
The Army arrested several al-Meqdad family members, among them Maher, during raids on Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas.
Since then, the clan has freed the abductees.
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