Charbel Regrets Lack of Political Consensus to Disarm Tripoli Gunmen
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel lamented on Friday that Lebanon's political leaders haven't yet taken the bold step to lift the political cover off gunmen in the northern city of Tripoli.
In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), Charbel said: “The Tripoli situation is still under control but unacceptable.”
He expressed regret that “the political cover hasn't been lifted off the gunmen in Tripoli.”
“Parliament should convene and take security measures,” said Charbel, who has repeatedly called for consensus by lawmakers to give security forces the right to act against perpetrators away from political interference.
Asked where the weapons used by the gunmen in both Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods had come from, Charbel said: “Some traders sold arms to the Lebanese and most parties are armed.”
He blamed political differences for the armed clashes, which he said have now turned into sectarian differences.
“What's happening in Tripoli trespasses the government's capabilities,” Charbel told VDL, reiterating that only political consensus resolves security problems in the country.
His remarks came as intermittent sniper fire shook the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, leaving several people dead.
The majority of Bab al-Tabbaneh residents are Sunni and back the revolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad while Jabal Mohsen's residents are mainly Alawites from Assad's sect.
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