Abu Ghida Issues Arrest Warrants against Asir, Shaker over Abra Clashes
First Military Investigation Judge Riyad Abu Ghida issued on Wednesday arrest warrants against several fugitives including Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and Fadel Shaker over the clashes in southern town of Abra.
According to the state-run National News Agency, Abu Ghida issued arrest warrants against eight wanted suspects, including Asir and singer-turned Salafist Shaker.
The news agency said that the judge will continue on Thursday interrogating the other suspects.
On Tuesday Abu Ghida issued arrest warrants against six other suspects.
According to the NNA, the total number of arrest warrants issued so far has reached 20.
Last week, State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged 27 suspects, 10 of them in absentia, over clashes with the Lebanese army in the Abra, near the port city of Sidon.
If convicted, the suspects face the death penalty.
The fighting near the southern city of Sidon was sparked late last month when Asir's supporters opened fire on an army checkpoint, leaving around 18 soldiers and more than 20 gunmen dead.
The gunbattles concentrated in the area of Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque and nearby buildings in Abra.
Asir, a 45-year-old cleric who supports the overwhelmingly Sunni rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, is no where to be found along with Shaker.
Asir teamed up with Shaker, a onetime prominent singer, when around two years ago he began agitating for Hizbullah to disarm.
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