Qabbani, Qabalan Discuss Measures to Avoid Strife, Consolidate Security

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani and the deputy head of the Higher Shiite Islamic Council, Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, discussed on Monday ways to distance the country from strife.

A statement issued by Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanon’s highest Sunni authority, said Qabalan telephoned Qabbani “to discuss ways to avoid the country's slide to strife and infighting under any slogan or controversial issue.”

The two religious officials also talked about “measures that would guarantee security, stability and the safety of the Lebanese, in particular (the adoption of) a new electoral law that MPs in parliament agree on,” it said.

The statement added that consensus on a draft-law would “cut the road short to any strife that (certain) sides would take advantage of,” the statement added.

Fears of a Sunni-Shiite strife have lately emerged in the southern city of Sidon after controversial Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir vowed to escalate his protests until his demand for the departure of alleged Hizbullah members in apartments located near his mosque in Abra was met.

Several other security incidents have rocked the country mainly on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Lebanese officials, including Speaker Nabih Berri and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, stressed on Monday that the security was a priority and not the electoral law that would govern the polls set to take place on June 9.

The rival parties have so far failed to reach consensus on the vote law despite several proposals made by different parliamentary blocs.