Charbel Appeals for Political Consensus on Law Enforcement to Overcome Threat of 'Dark Clouds'
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reiterated on Monday that Lebanese politicians should meet in parliament to approve a document that gives security forces the right to carry out their tasks without political interference as he warned that “dark clouds” were looming on the country's horizon.
The solution to Lebanon's security problems comes by “a meeting in parliament by all Lebanese politicians under one slogan which is the country's security,” Charbel said.
“They should sign a document that says they won't provide (political) cover to any suspect and allow security agencies to carry out their tasks,” he told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).
“They should also distance themselves from the developments in Syria and pledge not to allow infiltrations across the Lebanese-Syrian border,” the minister said.
His appeal came a day after two scholars at Dar al-Fatwa Sheikh Mazen Hariri and Sheikh Ahmed Fakhran were assaulted while passing through the Beirut area of Khandaq al-Ghamiq.
Charbel told VDL (93.3) that he met with Sheikhs at Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanon's highest Sunni authority, in addition to the two sheikhs who were attacked.
“They all called for calm,” he said. “They have trust in security forces and the Lebanese judiciary.”
Charbel appeased fears that the attack would drag the country into chaos, saying “the situation is calm today.”
“There is no longer any problem. The army and security forces opened the Cite Sportive road” that was blocked early Monday by burning tires, he told the radio station.
Angry protesters had also blocked roads in the Beirut areas of Tariq al-Jedideh, Qasqas and Corniche al-Mazraa, as well as Sidon's entrance in the South and al-Masnaa's road in the eastern Bekaa valley.
“The judiciary is investigating the assault so that we find out who instigated the attack,” Charbel said.
His remarks to VDL came as he told An Nahar published Monday that he sees “dark clouds in the horizon.”
But hoped that Lebanon would be able to overcome them “wisely.”
The army announced late Sunday that it arrested five people involved in the attack in Khandaq al-Ghamiq and a second assault on another sheikh, Omar al-Imami, in the Beirut suburb of Shiyyah.
The arrests were made after a military patrol raided the homes of the perpetrators.
The army vowed to pursue the rest of the suspects.
The attacks drew condemnations from politicians from across the divide.
Deputy head of the Higher Islamic Council Omar Mesqawi said the attack in Khandaq al-Ghamiq is a sign of strife and instigation that has become permanent.
Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah in Beirut urged restraint and advised protesters “not to be dragged to plots (aimed at igniting) strife.”
Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani visited the two Sheikhs in hospital a day after he urged calm and restraint, stressing that the perpetrators “will not go unpunished.”
Hizbullah and AMAL also described it as an attempt to incite strife while Prime Minister Najib Miqati, who is in Rome, tweeted “May God protect Lebanon from this strife, all perpetrators will be held accountable.”
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