Saniora, MP Hariri to Hand Suleiman Memo on Aftermath of Sidon Clashes
Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora and MP Bahia Hariri are expected to submit a memorandum to President Michel Suleiman on the recent developments in Sidon in the aftermath of the clashes in the southern city, the daily An Nahar reported Friday.
It said that the memo will include accounts on Hizbullah fighters' participation in the unrest.
Mustaqbal sources told the daily that “anger has prevailed among the residents of he city over the manner in which the clashes were portrayed and over Hizbullah's participation in them.”
“The residents have been wronged due to the practices in the city that have created a shock among them,” they added.
They therefore explained that Saniora and Hariri chose to submit the memorandum to Suleiman due to his position as president, high commander of the armed forces, and protector of the constitution and citizens.
The memo will also address the “haphazard arrests in Sidon and the insults some Sidon residents are being subjected to due to superficial reasons, such as their beards and having had performed prayers at the Bilal bin Rabah mosque,” said An Nahar.
Eighteen soldiers were killed and 50 were wounded in clashes between the army and armed supporters of the Imam of the Bilal bin Rabah mosque Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir on Sunday and Monday.
More than 20 of al-Asir's supporters were killed, according to a security official.
Dozens of them were also arrested, but there was no sign of the cleric.
Sidon Ulemas accused on Wednesday Hizbullah fighters of taking part in the battles alongside the army, despite assertions by various officials that the army acted alone in combating the gunmen.
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