March 14 calls for arms, militia free Beirut

The March 14 general-secretariat said Wednesday that the clashes of Borj Abi Haidar between Hezbollah and al-Ahbash gunmen are a new sign of the danger of militia arms.

“It’s time for the Lebanese state to take quick measures to announce Beirut a weapons and militia free city,” the general-secretariat said in a statement following its weekly meeting.

It urged the government and its security, military and judicial agencies to arrest those who caused the deadly clashes and participated in them.

The statement also called on Lebanese authorities to protect stability and civil peace.

“Protecting Lebanon from internal dangers is as important as protecting it from foreign dangers,” the conferees said. “This requires a quick end to abnormal conditions such as the presence of security squares.”

March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soueid told Voice of Lebanon (VOL) radio station on Wednesday that Beirut should be an arms-free city, adding that violators of the weapons sanction should be seriously punished.

Hezbollah and the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—clashed on Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Bourj Abi Haidar, which led to the death of four people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawaz.

Al-Ahbash is a Sunni pro-Syrian group and describes itself as a charitable organization promoting Islamic culture.

Soueid said that the prestige of Lebanon should be restored, adding that there must not be chaotic situations.

Matters can be resolved in the cabinet and national-dialogue sessions, he also said, voicing the importance of abiding by the Doha Agreement, which was signed following 2008 May Events.

Following its Wednesday meeting, the March 14 General Secretariat issued a statement that the Lebanese government should take the required procedures to control arms in the country.

The cabinet should take actions to end sectarian threats, the statement added.

Clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar broke out on Tuesday night between supporters of the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and Hezbollah. Al-Ahbash is a Sunni pro-Syrian group and describes itself as a charitable organization promoting Islamic culture.

The statement also said that Beirut should be announced as an arms and militia free city so people can live peacefully.

It is the responsibility of the security, military and judicial authorities to arrest and punish those engaged in the fighting, the statement added