Tripoli Roads Blocked over Bekaa Dispute between Army, Shahhal Bodyguards
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Several roads were blocked on Friday in the northern city of Tripoli in protest at a dispute that erupted between army troops and the bodyguards of Salafist cleric Dai al-Islam al-Shahhal in the Bekaa town of Majdal Anjar.
“An army patrol arrested one of al-Shahhal's bodyguards for carrying a visible weapon in Majdal Anjar,” OTV quoted a military source as saying.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said “army troops confiscated the machinegun of one of al-Shahhal's bodyguards who was trying to block Majdal Anjar's road and a verbal dispute ensued.”
“They later returned the machinegun,” the radio station added.
MTV said Shahhal was “insulted at a security checkpoint.”
Later on Friday, LBCI television reported that protesters blocked the Azmi and Mejdlayya roads in Tripoli, the Salafist cleric's hometown, to condemn the incident.
Protesters shouted slogans condemning “the harassment against clerics” and threatening further escalation “should this treatment continue.”
The situation was already tense across the country on Friday, after strict security measures in the Sidon suburb of Abra managed to prevent a sit-in held by Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir from turning violent.
Also on Friday, Islamist inmates rioted at the Roumieh prison while four men confronted Sheikh Hisham Khalifeh during his Friday sermon at the Mohammed al-Amin Mosque in downtown Beirut.
On Friday morning, Shahhal said the military institution is “largely infiltrated.”
Gendarmery commander Brig. Gen. Joseph Doueihi noted that “a certain party coordinated and synchronized the Islamist protests in several regions at noon.”
01 March 2013, 18:11
35
stupid religions and its followers... seems in lebanon they are so addicted that they take religions through intraveinous shots...
01 March 2013, 18:15
65
at least they did not shoot the cleric for once! but why did they return the weapons?
why do such people enjoy the freedom of carrying weapons? is it because they are financed by mikati and safadi?
01 March 2013, 18:20
00
Why are ALL the islamic leaders "Shiekhs" and the issues are political?? The government is fighting these Shiekhs and not anybody else.. by the way do u know that by law the government pays most of these Shiekhs salaries!!! walla shee bikaffer..
01 March 2013, 18:44
33
enlighten us why you decided this comment is stupid?
it is a fact these guys are financed by mikati and safadi and armed by hizbushaitan.
stating the obvious offends you?
01 March 2013, 21:57
13
Geha my friend
Why would anyone accuse someone of something if you don't have a proof
but making an accusation without a foundation and facts are a norm with you and brainiacs like you.
That's why the politicians in Lebanon get away with murder, they thrive by followers like you.
Wake up people
01 March 2013, 22:55
00
Why was the weapon returned to the bodyguard? Is it a registered, legitimate weapon? What right to private bodyguards have to block a public road? I say the army should send two or three units, or even an entire battalion, to arrest all of those involved in these incidents and those associated with anyone involved, including the cleric himself, search all of their homes and places of work, PERMANENTLY confiscate all of their weapons, and refer them all to the military tribunal.
01 March 2013, 22:58
00
Why was the weapon returned to the bodyguard? Is it a registered, legitimate weapon? What right to private bodyguards have to block a public road? I say the army should send two or three units, or even an entire battalion, to arrest all of those involved in these incidents and those associated with anyone involved, including the cleric himself, search all of their homes and places of work, PERMANENTLY confiscate all of their weapons, and refer them all to the military tribunal.
02 March 2013, 02:27
20
Those that hold the Lebanese army as infallible and beyond criticism should be worried about how some of its members are now acting on behalf of a foreign powers.
02 March 2013, 04:07
00
The army never does a reaction if there hadn't been an action. Nuff said
