Rifi confident “no party wants civil war in the country”

 

The head of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), Brigadier General Ashraf Rifi, told The Daily Star on Tuesday that “the security situation in the country is relatively stable” despite the failure of Arab mediation.

 

“A political settlement would have relieved us and facilitated our mission, but what can we do? We have to deal with the situation as it is,” Rifi said, adding that all parties are positively cooperating with the army and security forces.

 

“I will not worry about the security situation as long as all parties keep up their promises and commitments,” he said.

 

“It became clear to everybody following the recent clashes that no party wants civil war in the country. Things are working just fine since the last security meeting that we had with representatives of the feuding parties,” he added.

 

Rifi was referring to a February 17 meeting aimed at containing tensions in Beirut after the breakout of street clashes between opposition and pro-government supporters, wounding at least 20 people.

 

Fears of sectarian strife have been growing in the country since the last clashes, which erupted in mixed Sunni-Shiite areas in the capital.

 

The clashes have led Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain to warn their citizens against travel to Lebanon.