Deep regret over deaths in Tripoli
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir on Sunday expressed deep regret for the death of nine people in clashes in the northern city of Tripoli over the weekend. Sfeir delivered his weekly sermon in Diman, town of the patriarch”s summer residence.
After his sermon, Sfeir met with head of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), Brigadier General Ashraf Rifi with whom he discussed recent security developments as well as the situation in Tripoli. .
Rifi informed the patriarch about "the latest security measures concerning the Tripoli conflict," saying that the ISF were following the instructions of newly-appointed Interior Minister, Ziyad Baroud.
Sfeir also met with Lebanese expatriate families who were visiting Lebanon for the first time.
Sfeir called on his visitors, and Lebanese immigrants in general, "to keep visiting Lebanon and avoid falling into the political disputes." He added that he hoped they would be able to participate more actively in national decision-making.