Miqati Rejects Gun Culture, Says he Provides Education not Arms to Tripoli

Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied accusations that he is arming certain groups in his hometown of Tripoli, saying he provides the northern city’s residents with education and projects.

In remarks to As Safir daily published Friday, Miqati said: “These remarks are totally rejected.”

“I do arm the city’s residents with education and (development) projects,” he told the newspaper.

“My culture will never be the culture of guns. It will be the culture of peace, education and centrism,” Miqati stressed.

Sources close to the premier also wondered how Miqati could contribute to worsening the security situation in Tripoli given that he is the first person to suffer from the incidents that have shaken the city.

On the contrary, he is exerting strong efforts to restore calm in the city and create stability, the sources told al-Liwaa newspaper.

Miqati’s denial came after al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Ahmed Fatfat said the premier is funding armed groups who have taken part in the latest gunbattles in Tripoli that have left several people dead.

The lawmaker also described Miqati as a “tool” for Hizbullah that makes up the majority of the government.