Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and his bodyguard were killed by gunfire after failing
to stop at the LAF checkpoint in Kwaykhat. Sheikh Ahmed was heading to the
rally held by the partisans of MP Khaled Daher to commemorate the memory of the
May 7 victims.
Following the incident, Akkar MPs Khaled Daher and Mouin Merhebi called for cutting off Akkar’s roads, expelling the LAF and letting the ISF take
over security tasks in the region.
Commenting on the incident,
MP Khaled Daher told LBCI that the killing of Sheikh Abdul Wahed by the LAF was
intentional, adding “we will not simply let it pass”. Exclusive sources told LBCI
that the LAF established an investigation committee to investigate into the
incident.
The LAF issued
a statement regretting the incident in Akkar that killed two persons, and
announcing the establishment of an investigation committee of senior military
police officers, under the supervision of the relevant judicial authority.
The LAF leadership said that
Judge Saqr Saqr inspected the crime scene and started interrogating members
from the army checkpoints.
Judge Saqr visited Rahal hospital as well.
The forensic doctor examined
the two bodies in the presence of members of both families.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati discussed
the details of Akkar’s incident with Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Interior
Minister Marwan Charbel and security officials. Mikati called for the
establishment of an investigation committee.
The PM kindly asked all
parties to contribute to restoring calm and to act wisely and carefully.
Mufti of the Lebanese Republic
Sheikh Mohammad Rachid Qabbani called on competent authorities to take practical steps to disclose the incident’s
circumstances.
Qabbani
announced that Dar al Fatwa and the Directorate General of the Islamic Waqf in Beirut and all related institutions across Lebanese
regions will be closed for three mourning days.
Former PM Saad
Hariri contacted President Michel Suleiman and LAF Commander Jean Kahwaji
calling for the immediate establishment of an investigative committee to disclose the crime’s circumstances, and to
punish the perpetrators no matter their ranks.
MP Ahmad Fatfat told LBCI that it is
unacceptable to consider that the crime was an accident. Fatfat called on
President Suleiman and the Army Command to address this issue and intervene as
soon as possible.
Exclusive sources told LBCI
that an investigation committee was established by the LAF to investigate into
the incident.
LAF units and security forces had boosted their deployment in
Halba, Akkar on Sunday morning in preparation for the two festivals that kicked off simultaneously at 11 a.m, 100 meters
away from each other. The National Syrian Socialist Party is holding a rally to
commemorate the martyrs of the Halba massacre in front of its office in the
area while the partisans of Khaled Daher are holding a similar rally to
commemorate the martyrs of May 7 events.