Army Deploys in Aisha Bakkar as MPs Move Toward Declaring: Beirut "A Safe City"
The Lebanese army deployed troops in Beriut”s Aisha Bakkar district as Beirut MPs were getting ready to issue a declaration: Beirut "A Safe City" for all, marking a step forward in efforts to stabilize the city.
MP Nuhad Mashnouq said in remarks published by pan-Arab Sharq al-Awsat newspaper that a meeting in this regard will take place on Tuesday with Defense Minister Elias Murr and Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani.
He said Beirut MPs, in addition to clergymen representing the various sects, would soon be invited to talks on declaring Beirut a "safe city" for all.
Mashnouq”s comments came after armed clashes in Beirut left one woman killed and six other people wounded on Sunday.
The state-run National News Agency said the Lebanese army arrested eight suspects charged with opening fire during the fighting in Aisha Bakkar neighborhood of Beirut Sunday evening.
The Lebanese military said in a statement that the army had 42 names on a wanted list and had detained some suspects.
NNA said several other people were arrested for provoking chaos and burning tires.
The Lebanese army on Monday pledged to arrest those involved in Sunday”s clashes.
"We will continue to prosecute each and every person involved in the clashes," an army spokesman told AFP.
The fighting with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades on Sunday pitted supporters of parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri”s Amal movement against backers of PM-designate Saad Hariri”s al-Mustaqbal Movement.
The army said all gunmen on the streets risked being shot by soldiers as the military was deployed to restore law and order.
"No one has political cover," said the army in a statement. "We will not allow a bunch of hooligans to take advantage of a situation in order to stir up sedition and undermine general stability in the country."
Relatives of Zeina Miri, the woman killed in the clashes, burned tires and cut off roads in the area on Monday, but the army quickly intervened to control the situation.
Her funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.