Muslim Ulemas: We Will No Longer Assist State in Containing Street Unrest
Muslim Ulemas accused the state of failing to contain security unrest in Lebanon, blaming Hizbullah for usurping its decision-making power.
Salafist cleric Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi said after a meeting that the Ulemas “will no longer intervene to contain street tensions” after the state failed to perform its duties.
He explained that the Ulemas had repeatedly cooperated to control unrest during numerous security incidents in the past, but they will no longer do so after the state failed them.
Moreover, he revealed that they had reached an agreement on Sunday over a one-hour ceasefire with the fighters in the southern city of Sidon, but it was rejected by the army.
He therefore held the Army Command responsible for the ongoing unrest in the city, while saying that “third parties had intervened in order to maintain the clashes.”
“We hold the army command responsible for the failure of our proposed ceasefire and the consequences that it may incur,” declared al-Rafehi after the meeting that was held in the northern city of Tripoli.
In addition, the cleric stated that eyewitness accounts by the residents of Sidon revealed that members of Hizbullah and the AMAL movement had been taking part in the clashes in the city.
He also revealed that Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir was doing well, denying reports that he had been wounded in the Sidon clashes.
The unrest broke out in Sidon on Sunday between supporters of al-Asir and the army.
The military command said the number of troops killed in the fighting rose to 12. There were also more than 50 injuries among the ranks of the soldiers, but it was not clear how many fighters were killed in the unrest.
The clashes erupted when al-Asir's supporters surrounded an army checkpoint in the area, where a vehicle transporting other supporters of the cleric had been stopped.
After the armed men attacked the troops with gunfire, the army fired back.
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