Berri: We Must Preserve Security and Stability

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called Friday for preserving security and stability in Lebanon, following three days of unrest sparked by remarks against him by Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil.

“Regardless of the problems that might happen, we must always preserve security and stability in the country in order to confront the major challenges,” Berri said.

“Everyone is aware of the ongoing events in the region,” the Speaker cautioned.

His remarks come a day after he received an ice-breaking phone call from President Michel Aoun.

In the phone conversation, the two leaders agreed to put an end to the war of words between their two parties and to hold a meeting on Tuesday. A reconciliation meeting was also held Friday in the town of Hadath, the scene of a major confrontation during the unrest.

The unrest was sparked by leaked video showing Bassil calling Berri a "thug" and vowing to "break his head" during a closed meeting in Beirut.

The footage drew the ire of Berri's aides and political allies, who lashed out at Bassil, with Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil calling the foreign minister "lowly" and a "political dwarf."