Hariri: Arms proliferation law does not targets any particular group

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during a Monday Iftar that his call to apply the law to resolve the issue of weapons proliferation is not directed at any particular side.

This comes after cabinet last Wednesday agreed to form a commission to deal with arms proliferation in the country following the clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar last Tuesday night between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

The PM released a statement following the Iftar that no part of Lebanon can be “immune to the application of the law.”

He reiterated that the cabinet must act swiftly to prevent the Bourj Abi Haidar clashes from happening again.

In another statement, Hariri stated that he asked President Michel Suleiman to convene a meeting of the Higher Defense Council to discuss the issue of arms proliferation in Lebanon.

Hariri’s request comes after chairing a meeting of the ministerial commission tasked with addressing weapons proliferation.

On Sunday, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad slammed those who he said are exploiting the Borj Abi Haidar incident to promote sectarian strife in Beirut.

“Some people are insisting on making statements with slogans and incitement that only serve to fuel the fire of division and strife. These voices are not keen to protect society, the people or the state, irrespective of (the call to) protect society and build the state,” Raad said about Hariri without naming him.