Cabinet Refers Tripoli Crime to Judicial Council in the Absence of Murr
The Lebanese cabinet referred the Tripoli crime to the judicial council and called for handling the security issue with wisdom and firmness.
President Michel Suleiman presided over the cabinet”s extraordinary session at Baabda Palace.
Suleiman briefed the ministers on his visit to Syria and described the Lebanese-Syrian summit as "important," Information Minister Tareq Mitri told reporters following the meeting.
Mitri said the cabinet would take a decision concerning exchanging embassies with Damascus in its next meeting on Thursday.
It was noted the absence of Defense Minister Elias al-Murr from the meeting that was intended to discuss the security situation.
Education Minister Bahiya Hariri also did”t attend the meeting.
Premier Saniora hailed the Syria visit and called for reconsidering the Lebanese-Syrian pacts ratified during the Syrian Hegemony according to national interest.
He also called for tackling the security situation in Tripoli wisely and firmly.
Mitri said the Cabinet decided to refer the Tripoli crime to the judicial council.
Al-Mustaqbal MPs urged the Lebanese government to ask the U.N. Security Council to add the Tripoli crime to those already under investigation by the international commission.
Responding to a question, Mitri said no specific date has been set for Syrian President Bashar Assad”s visit to Lebanon.
The cabinet also decided to ask the Security Council to extend the U.N. mission in southern Lebanon by a year.