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Dispute Inside ISF to be Treated Once Government Gains Vote of Confidence
Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on Thursday called for total halt to the debate inside the Internal Security Forces institution between its Commander Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Police Chief Brig. Gen. Antoine Shakkour "regardless of its background and reasons that will be under radical treatment once the government gains vote of confidence."
Baroud said the political authority will bear its responsibilities in this subject according to the directions of President Michel Suleiman and coordination with PM Saad Hariri.
The interior minister stressed he will not accept that any institution under his ministry be run against "the rules of law, institutions, responsibility, and accountability."
Earlier, media reports highlighted the dispute between Rifi, who enjoys majority support, and Opposition-backed Shakkour.
Antoine Shakkour threatened to aggravate a range of underlying issues to the extent that presidential intervention was required to stop the squabble.
The conflict, which took on political dimensions, seems to have stemmed from a fight over jurisdiction as well as administrative decisions and correspondence between Rifi and Shakkour relating to certain tasks.
ISF leadership meetings have also been suspended due to the boycott of a number of its members.
The daily As-Safir said Shakkour has been refusing to carry out Rifi”s orders which he believes are not in line with legal norms.
Shakkour”s action constituted "disciplinary violation," according to Rifi – actions that the ISF commander can "no longer keep silent about."
The dispute further aggravated over the past two days in the wake of orders issued to Skakkour by Rifi.
Al-Akhbar newspaper said Rifi hinted at taking stern disciplinary measures against Shakkour that could lead to his arrest in case of non-implementation of orders.
The conflict required a speedy intervention by Lebanon”s top political leaders, including President Michel Suleiman to prevent further escalation of the situation.
Al-Akhbar said Opposition leaders — including Hizbullah, Speaker Nabih Berri, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh – have voiced support for Shakkour.
Citing a senior official, the daily said Prime Minister Saad Hariri did not object to actions taken by Rifi.
Suleiman met Shakkour late Wednesday and listened to his side of the story.
Al-Akhbar said Suleiman expressed solidarity with Shakkour.
The issue drew reactions from Aoun and Druze leader Walid Jumblat who stressed that the status of the ISF and the structure of its leadership should be reconsidered.
Aoun took a harsher stand. He accused Rifi of overstepping his jurisdiction and of "threatening" Shakkour and manipulating the structure of ISF units, which include the police.
He demanded sweeping reforms in the police institution.