Spiritual Summit Likely to Support Unity
A summit between Muslim and Christian religious leaders, under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman, began at Baabda Palace on Tuesday.
Lebanese spiritual leaders, their advisers and members of the Christian-Islamic Dialogue Committee attended the meeting which started at 11 am.
"This summit aims at restoring dialogue between the different confessional leaders and religious figures in Lebanon," The Daily Star quoted a source close to the Presidential Palace as saying.
Suleiman has reportedly called for the summit in an effort to reunite all Lebanese religious parties in the wake of the extended political crisis.
Use of arms as well as ways to free the Israeli-occupied areas of south Lebanon and the issue of Lebanese detainees held in foreign countries were reportedly on the summit agenda.
The participants were expected to condemn the use of arms and "forbid their use to settle internal political quarrels."
They are also expected to work on eliminating the obstacles facing the new cabinet line-up.
News reports said the summit will also stress that security services and constitutional institutions should be "the sole authorities dealing with solving political conflicts."
The summit is also likely to urge the various media outlets to avoid bias, "which directly contributes to widening the country”s division."
It is expected to call on the media to avoid all kinds of "fiery and violent speeches and promote the concept of national unity."