Aoun says south won't remain a 'forgotten region' or 'bargaining chip'

President Joseph Aoun on Sunday marked the 48th anniversary of the disappearance of revered Shiite cleric Imam Moussa al-Sadr and his companions by saying that he refuses to allow the South to remain a "forgotten region" or a bargaining chip.

The president added that the only legitimate weapons protecting the land should be those of the state.

"We are working to achieve what the disappeared imam wanted: a strong and just state and a South protected by its army, its security forces, and the resilience of its people and the state combined," Aoun went on to say.

He added: "The case of Imam al-Sadr’s disappearance remains an open national and humanitarian issue, and we will continue to demand the full truth about his fate and the fate of his companions."