Saniora from Abra: Clashes May Renew in Presence of Non-State Arms
Head of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora on Friday voiced concern that clashes might renew in the southern city of Sidon because of the presence of weapons in the hands of non-state actors.
Saniora voiced his remarks from Abra, a Sidon suburb that witnessed deadly fierce clashes last month between army troops and gunmen loyal to anti-Hizbullah Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir.
"The main issue is that the residents of the city of Sidon absolutely do not want to see these clashes being repeated in any manner whatsoever," said Saniora as he inspected reconstruction works in Abra.
“As long as weapons exist in the hands of individuals defying the authority of the Lebanese state, especially the authority of the Lebanese army and the security agencies, there is always a possibility that (clashes) might renew every now and then, which would harm the Lebanese, the city's residents and also stability,” Saniora warned.
Saniora reiterated his call for turning Sidon into a "weapons-free city."
"This is our main concern ... we want to know the truth and we also want to follow up on the issue of the detainees," the ex-PM said, stressing that the gunmen who attacked the army must be held accountable and "the innocents must be released from jail."
On June 23, gunmen loyal to al-Asir attacked an army checkpoint near the Islamist cleric's mosque in Abra. Eighteen soldiers were martyred and 20 others were wounded in the attack and in the fierce clashes that ensued.
At least twenty of Asir's gunmen were also killed in the battle that ended when the army stormed al-Asir's headquarters on June 24.
The fighting in Abra was among the worst in Lebanon since the outbreak of conflict in neighboring Syria 27 months ago deepened sectarian tensions.
It highlighted widespread Sunni resentment against the army, accused of siding with Hizbullah and being selective in its crackdown on armed groups.
The Mustaqbal Movement and its allies in the March 14 camp have demanded clarifications from the military institution over reports that Hizbullah fighters had fought alongside army troops in the Abra battle.
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