Maronite Bishops: Parliament, Tripoli Have Become Arenas for Political Parties to Settle their Scores

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The Maronite Bishops Council lamented on Wednesday the ongoing political deadlock in Lebanon given the failure to form a new government and convene parliament and given the unrest in the northern city of Tripoli.

It said: “Parliament and Tripoli have become arenas for rival political parties to settle their scores.”

It made its remarks after its monthly meeting at Bkirki headed by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

“We are disappointed with the political powers' failure to form a new government that would help end the political deadlock, put an end to the spread of illegitimate arms, and ease the people's daily concerns,” it added.

Moreover, it noted: “The unrest in Tripoli stems from regional powers settling their scores in the city.”

It therefore demanded that political cover for the gunmen in the city be removed, while voicing it support for the implementation of the security plan in the area.

It hoped that the army and security forces would be supported in their mission to restore calm in the city, adding that this plan should be adopted throughout Lebanon.

Commenting on the release of the nine Lebanese pilgrims who were held in Syria's Aazaz region, the Maronite Bishops Council hoped that this would pave the way to resolving the cases of all Lebanese held in Syria and the case of the two bishops who were abducted in Syria.

Clashes erupted last week between Tripoli's rival Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods, leavings scores of casualties.

The Lebanese army deployed on Tuesday along Syria Street, the road that separates the two neighborhoods.

Three soldiers were wounded on Monday during a clash with gunmen as troops deployed in Bab al-Tabbaneh, whose residents are mostly Sunni and back the rebellion against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The military had earlier deployed in Jabal Mohsen that is mainly Alawite, the sect of Assad.

The two neighborhoods have repeatedly witnessed rounds clashes that have only grown in intensity after the eruption of the uprising in Syria in March 2011.

Comments 1
Thumb mckinl 30 October 2013, 20:13

"It therefore demanded that political cover for the gunmen in the city be removed, while voicing it support for the implementation of the security plan in the area."

What about lifting political cover for the patrons of this violence and charging them with insurrection and murder ... ???