Salam Meets Berri: Competition among Politicians Jeopardizing Lives of Soldiers taken from Arsal

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Prime Minister Tammam Salam criticized on Wednesday the tense political rhetoric between various political powers, saying that “they do not help Lebanon in confronting the security danger.”

He said after meeting Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain el-Tineh: “Competition among politicians is putting at risk the lives of the soldiers and policemen taken captive in Arsal.”

“This case should be handled with great care and the tense statements do not help our cause at all,” he stressed before reporters.

“Such statements do not become the nation or the citizens,” said the premier.

Moreover, he remarked that Lebanon is paying the price for the vacuum in the presidency.

“The political powers' greatest crisis lies in electing a new president,” he noted.

“We should focus on stances that unite the Lebanese and help the country confront this difficult and uncomfortable situation,” he added.

Furthermore, Salam explained that he made it clear to the hostages' families that their case could not be resolved quickly.

“We are cooperating against those who want to harm Lebanon,” he stated.

Clashes broke out on August 2 between the army and Islamists in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The fighting ended with a ceasefire on August 7 and the withdrawal of the militants, who kidnapped with them a number of soldiers and policemen.

Efforts are underway to ensure their release.

Comments 4
Default-user-icon roukuz (Guest) 27 August 2014, 15:35

“This case should be handled with great care and the tense statements do not help our cause at all,” he stressed before reporters.

this is unfair. Flamethrower and mowaten need to attack the army and will continue to do so.

Default-user-icon Ghislain Bustros de Haute Savoie (Guest) 27 August 2014, 16:02

Before releasing the pilgrims, we the FPM demand the army to explain to us in detail what really happened in Arsal. We don't want Qahwaji to become president so we are trying to tarnish his reputation in every way possible. On the other hand we are proud to be allied with Hizbullah which has no respect whatsoever for the Lebanese state.

Default-user-icon 6364 (Guest) 27 August 2014, 18:07

yep qahwagi scares them, think about it we had president lahoud, sleiman and maybe now qahwagi, aoun came before all of them and it's the thing he yearns for most in life. even after he started two wars he could not accomplish his target of becoming president, the closest he will ever get to it was when he told a journalist in 1989 "Madame, je suis Président et six Ministres".

Default-user-icon mamnou3at (Guest) 27 August 2014, 18:29

Goes to show how the M8 administrator of NN operates, thank you FT for pointing that out.