Report: Fear of Reactions in Lebanon Following Saudi Cleric Execution
The security measures around the Saudi embassy were already there but were only intensified following the recent developments that accompanied the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.
“The security measures around the embassy were taken a long time ago, but the latest developments following the execution of Sheikh Nimr made us up these measures,” a security source told the daily on condition of anonymity.
However, the source made some reassurances that Lebanon will not witness reactions to the capital punishment, he said: “We believe that Lebanon is not a scene for reactions on what Saudi Arabia has witnessed.”
On Sunday, reports said that the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Lebanon has taken precautionary security measures following the execution of al-Nimr and the torching of the Saudi Embassy late on Saturday in Tehran. The embassy's staff were notified of the necessity to stay inside the embassy to avoid any reprisals they may be exposed to by supporters of Iran in Lebanon.
The source added that “reports gathered so far from various security agencies were reassuring as they did not mention any potential risks in Lebanon. Most of the reactions expected will not come out of the circle of peaceful expression.”
“The security sources have received high degree assurances from responsible figures that Lebanon will not be a scene of reactions in any way. But that does not mean that there will be leniency in taking the necessary measures around the embassies concerned including the embassies of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait Jordan and the the Iranian Embassy and its facilities,” concluded the source.
Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed 47 people convicted of "terrorism", including a prominent al-Nimr whom the Saudi authorities said was behind anti-government protests.
The execution drew the ire of several including Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah who launched on Sunday one of his fiercest verbal attacks to date against Saudi Arabia over its execution of al-Nimr, as he warned against turning the issue into a Sunni-Shiite conflict.
Source: Naharnet
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