Mitri says govt. won't back down from arms monopoly decision

Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said Saturday that “Hezbollah, the army and the government have agreed to avoid confrontation.”

“The government will not back down from its arms monopoly decision,” Mitri added.

“I have informed Speaker (Nabih) Berri that Friday’s session should be calm and based on dialogue,” Mitri said about the session that will see the army present a plan for the disarmament of Hezbollah and all armed groups.

The Lebanese government's decision to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year was made under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded military action by Israel, which has continued to carry out attacks in Lebanon despite the November ceasefire.

Hezbollah has meanwhile rejected the government’s decisions and said that it will deal with them as if they don’t exist.