Local Editor

The Lebanese Internal Security Forces Director General Achraf Rifi visiting Beirut’s Tariq al-Jedideh Monday; May 21, 2012

The Lebanese Internal Security Forces Director General Achraf Rifi visited Beirut’s Tariq al-Jedideh Monday and voiced the importance of maintaining security in cooperation with the Lebanese army.
“The security forces are completely ready [to confront security incidents],” Rifi said, adding that no army other than the Lebanese army “will be present on Lebanese territory.”

Clashes erupted in Beirut late Sunday, when Al-Mostaqbal party militants flooded Tariq al-Jedideh area and stormed the head office of Arab Movement party, firing RBG projectiles.

Arab Movement’s Chief, Shaker al-Berjawi, said Monday he will take to the court all of those who participate in the clashes and provokes to spread mass panic among residents.

“One hundred gunmen shot at the office,” Berjawi said, adding that “[guards] from Saad Hariri’s residence participated” in the attack against the party’s office.
“I am the Resistance’s ally, Hezbollah’s ally and Syria’s ally,” he stressed during a press conference he made Monday afternoon.

“We want neither the sedition nor the conflict to spread in Lebanon. We are keen to civil peace in Beirut,” Al-Berjawi added.

Two people were killed and another 18 injured due to the street violence Sunday.

One of the wounded stated that three or four RBG projectiles were fired towards the head office of Arab Movement party at 21:00 local time Sunday.

Also on Monday, Ammar al-Houri, Al-Mostaqbal party’s MP, visited the area Monday.

“The most important thing is that we are here now,” he said, referring to Al-Mostaqbal party’s supporters.
Tariq Al-Jdideh at night; Sunday 20 May, 2012

Tariq Al-Jdideh at night; Sunday 20 May, 2012

During his visit, Rifi inspected the office of Arab Movement leader Shaker Barjawi, which was burned on Sunday evening during clashes in the neighborhood.

The tensions sparked after army troops shot dead cleric Ahmad Abdel Wahed and his bodyguard, Mohammad Hussein Merheb, on Sunday when his convoy allegedly failed to stop at a checkpoint in North Lebanon.
Early on Monday, Abdul Wahid’s body was moved from a Halba hospital to his hometown Al-Bire amid heavy fires.

Local Reactions

The Higher Islamic Council and the Council of Muftis held a meeting on Monday and called for “referring the shooting of Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahed and his bodyguard Mohammad Hussein Merheb by army troops to the Justice Council,” a statement issued by the participants reported.

The statement also called on the residents of the northern district of Akkar to “remain calm and foil the attempts to divide the unity of the army and the country and cause strife between the army and the residents of Akkar.”

During the meeting, members of the Muslim Ulama’ Council held a protest outside Dar al-Fatwa to condemn the killing of Abdel Wahed and his bodyguard.

They also called on referring the killing of Abdel Wahed by army troops to the Justice Council.

For his part, Akkar Sunni Mufti Sheikh Osama Rifai on Monday urged Lebanese army commander General Jean Qahwaji to “expedite the investigation into the killing of Akkar Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahed and his bodyguard and punish the assailants… otherwise it would cause a big problem.”

“We will follow up on the [investigation], we are all entrusted to the blood of the martyrs and we demand punishment for the assailants,” Rifai added, calling on the residents of Akkar to remain calm.

Int'l Reactions
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly on Monday expressed his concern over the recent violence in Tripoli, Akkar and Beirut, and extended his condolences to those killed

“I would like to extend my condolences to the families of those who died in these incidents,” Plumbly said in a press statement issued on Monday, and lamented the Sunday killing of Abdel Wahed and Merheb.
Meanwhile, The United States on Monday voiced concern about security in Lebanon after the death of the cleric and his bodyguard.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner issued a statement welcoming a pledge by Lebanese authorities to probe the shootings and urged all sides to show restraint amid fears the violence in Syria was spilling into Lebanon.

In the meantime, Russian Foreign ministry said Monday that “the forces which were unable to destabilize Syria are now managing to destabilize Lebanon,” while French foreign ministry condemned the clashes and urged the Lebanese to reject the provocations.

Protests

The Lebanese army opened the road linking Zahle to the Eastern Bekaa after a group of young men blocked it by burning tires, the National News Agency reported.

Moreover, Muslim students held on Monday a protest near the Grand Serail in Downtown Beirut to demand the punishment of assailants who killed Akkar Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahed and his bodyguard.
Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya bloc MP Imad Hout participated in the protest and said that “the Lebanese youths only want stability and security for Lebanon.”

Hout also called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati to hold an urgent cabinet meeting.
“It is not acceptable for the cabinet not to convene following the killing of Sheikh Abdel Wahed and his companion.”

The Sunday’s incident took place following a week of intermittent clashes in the northern port city of Tripoli erupted by Salafists hostile to the Syrian regime, after Lebanese security forces arrested the cleric Shadi Al-Mawlawi due to charges that he belongs to a terrorist organization.

Beirut Battle: One Night, One Street

Photo Blog by Haitham Moussawi

Street battles in Beirut overnight left two people dead, however the Lebanese capital was largely quiet on Monday morning.

"During the night, groups of young men cut off the road in the Tariq al-Jdideh district and street battles followed," a security official said.

"Two people were killed and 18 were wounded," he said, adding that machine guns had been used in the battle.

Supporters of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's Future Movement clashed with their former allies at the Arab Current Party, with fighting continuing until 3.00am.

There was also extensive material damage to the area, including the burning of the Arab Current Party headquarters.