ISF chief: Consensus key to restoring security

 

Internal Security Forces (ISF) chief Brigadier General Ashraf Rifi on Wednesday called for political consensus among the Lebanese, warning that otherwise, the country risked remaining an “open arena” on the security level. “The security and military forces are covering some gaps but we definitely need a political consensus,” Rifi said after meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir in Bkirki. “Our situation will remain open, unfortunately, as long as we do not reach a political consensus.”

 

“But we will do our best [to preserve the country”s security] though the absence of political agreement tires us,” he added.

 

According to Rifi, security measures have been taken to limit the “night clashes,” which he said, “have started to develop gradually, raising fears of a new civil or sectarian war.”

 

“Security forces are cooperating with the Lebanese Army to prevent the occurrence of any civil war,” he said.

 

Following last week”s clashes between government and opposition supporters in Beirut that wounded at least 14 people, a number of the county”s top security officials, including Rifi, met late Sunday with representatives of Hizbullah, the Amal Movement and the Future Movement in an effort to contain tensions in Beirut and prevent future clashes.

 

The security officials discussed the recent clashes with the party representatives and agreed to cooperate to prevent similar incidents.

 

“All participating parties said they would not provide cover for any civil war, nor would they provide cover for anyone,” Rifi said.

Meanwhile, the vice president of the Higher Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, called Wednesday for conducting the presidential elections “with consensus,” in order for Lebanon to be represented in the upcoming Arab summit.

 

“We have to cooperate in an effort to rescue our country,” Qabalan said. “Lebanon should not be absent from next month”s Arab summit in Damascus due to a failure to elect a consensus president.”

 

“We want a consensus president to participate in the summit and cooperate with his Arab brothers in order for them to keep an eye on the country,” Qabalan added.

 

He called on the Lebanese to “stick to values and ethics,” without discrimination.

 

In other developments, Muslim religious leaders are expected to hold a summit on Thursday to discuss the deteriorating situation in Lebanon.

 

The state-run National News Agency said the spiritual summit will be held at the offices of the Higher Shiite Islamic Council.

 

The meeting will include Qabalan, Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani and Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Naim Hassan.

 

The army has recently deployed heavily in Beirut”s mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhoods, which are considered especially volatile, and has succeeded in preventing or containing street clashes over the past few days.