Al-Rahi Calls for Dissociating Lebanon from Surrounding Crises

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged on Tuesday the rival parties to dissociate Lebanon from the regional and international turmoils, demanding officials to end the chaos in the country.

“The political, economic, social and security chaos in the country should end,” al-Rahi said in a sermon during a mass he held in Bkirki on the occasion of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Lebanon officially adopted a position of neutrality towards Syria's conflict but its people are sharply divided with Shiites mostly backing Assad while most of the Sunnis support the rebellion.

Fighters from both sects have joined the battle on opposite sides.

The patriarch stressed the importance of swiftly staging the first round of the presidential elections in order to give time to choose a president capable of assuming his national responsibilities.

President Michel Suleiman's tenure ends in May 2014, but the constitutional period to elect a new head of state begins on March 25, two months prior to the expiration of Suleiman’s mandate.

Al-Rahi considered that Lebanon is passing through “difficult crises as it's on the doorstep of the presidential elections in May.”

Lebanon has been the scene of security incidents since the war in Syria erupted three years ago, in particular, in the northern city of Tripoli and along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

The country has witnessed several attacks claimed by radical Sunni groups.