Sleiman rules out any tolerance for security breaches
LAF announces all perpetrators in Aisha Bakkar clashes arrested
President Michel Sleiman said on Thursday that security breaches should in no way be tolerated "especially since we are expecting a promising summer season." Sleiman told visitors the Lebanese Army and security forces have made "tremendous efforts to protect the Lebanese, prevent security breaches, and arrest perpetrators."
The president said the arrested people included some of those involved in sectarian clashes in Beirut.
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Command issued a statement on Wednesday announcing the arrest of all perpetrators who took part in Sunday”s clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar.
The LAF statement said 21 people had been arrested.
One woman, Zeina al-Meeri, 30, was killed and 11 wounded on Sunday night when clashes broke out between Future Movement and Amal supporters in the mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar.
Sunday”s incidents were a bitter reminder of similar fighting in May 2008, when pro-government gunmen battled with armed supporters of the Hizbullah-led opposition, which includes Amal. The clashes killed at least 65 people.
The clashes erupted after the government issued a decree to dismantle Hizbullah”s private telecommunications network and sack the head of security at the Beirut airport.
Head of the Amal Movement Speaker Nabih Berri said all those involved in the Aisha Bakkar fighting should be punished.
"Zeina al-Meeri”s blood will not go in vain," Berri told An-Nahar newspaper in comments published on Thursday.
Berri said "transparent investigations" should be launched into the incident.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud said the Lebanese should trust their security services.
"Security services should be able to protect all Lebanese citizens regardless of political or security circumstances," the minister told Voice of Lebanon radio station.
"The security and safety of the people falls within the responsibilities of the state," Baroud added.
He described the events in Aisha Bakkar as "unacceptable" and warned against the recurrence of such clashes.
Baroud also voiced hope that the cabinet would be formed "as soon as possible" amid a calm atmosphere.
Future Movement MP Nuhad Mashnouq said Beirut MPs across the political spectrum would continue to work until they can declare the capital "a safe city."
On Tuesday, a delegation of Beirut lawmakers discussed with caretaker Defense Minister Elias Murr means by which security in the capital could be "permanently preserved."
Murr received in his office at the Defense Ministry in Yarze MPs Ammar Houri, Mohammad Qabbani, Imad al-Hout, Atef Majdalani, Nuhad al-Mashnouq, Jean Ogassapian, Hani Qobeissy and Nayla Tueni.
The MPs urged Murr to declare Beirut as a "safe city free of arms."
In an interview with the Central News Agency on Wednesday, Mashnouq said lawmakers "will accept no compromise and will not tackle the issue lightly, especially when innocent civilians are being killed, such as during the recent clashes in Aisha Bakkar neighborhood."
He said that a meeting would be held in the Sunni seat of Dar al-Fatwa, "within the next few days," to discuss sectarian clashes in the capital.
Mashnouq described the meeting with Murr as "very positive," and added that the interior minister had promised the MPs that he would discuss their proposal to declare Beirut an arms-free city with the Lebanese Army.
The MP added that Murr also expressed readiness to help.
Mashnouq explained that the Beirut MPs "demanded that the army take decisive and firm measures to prevent such incidents from occurring again, and take precautionary measures in sensitive spots where clashes could erupt."
He added that Meeri”s killers "are well-known, and are involved in other crimes"
"We will continue working hard until all those responsible for this incident are accountable," he added.