President wants to know: are Al Qaeda militants in Lebanon?

Information Minister Walid Daouk said on Wednesday that the government has looked into the issues of Arsal and Al Qaeda, and the president will be briefed by the Higher Defense Council on the claims that the militant group is operating in Lebanon.  

Following the cabinet meeting, Daouk added that Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn presented all relevant information and deemed the debate spurred over his claims regarding the presence of Al Qaeda operatives in Arsal as purely political. Daouk stressed that the cabinet urged security forces and the LAF to properly monitor the borders. Daouk quoted President Michel Sleiman who hoped that Wednesday’s blast in Tyre is not linked to the past blasts or to the Wadi Khaled killings. “The concerned forces should take the necessary measures”, Daouk said. Daouk emphasized that the year 2011 was crowned with success, hoping that the cabinet will hold more sessions in the upcoming year.  

Daouk added that PM Najib Mikati extended his well wishes to Sleiman and the Lebanese people during the holiday season, hoping that the New Year will bring wellness and peace to the Lebanese. Daouk said that the New Year is an opportunity for self-reflection and learning from past lessons in order to strive for the best. “The past year was filled with difficulties, all of which Lebanon overcame. The cabinet is working on maintaining stability”, Daouk added.    

“Mikati said that the difference in points of view, whether within or outside the cabinet, should not become disputes”, Daouk added. Daouk quoted Mikati as saying that he endorses dialogue to discuss different controversial issues in order to find common ground.

Amongst the most prominent decisions taken by the cabinet were securing a 16 billion LBP grant to resume construction on an ISF center in Aramoun and ensuring that the Finance Ministry provides the Customs Service with a 4.671 billion LBP grant to pay for necessary expenses.

Exclusive sources told LBCI that a dispute erupted between the ministers regarding the presence of Al Qaeda militants in Lebanon. The sources added that some ministers considered that if some Lebanese endorse Al Qaeda, but do not adhere to their principles, a media frenzy should be avoided.

“Some ministers said that there is not enough evidence proving that Al Qaeda members are in Lebanon, while others insisted that their presence is a fact”, the sources said.

The sources added that such claims prompted President Michel Sleiman to call on the Higher Defense Council to convene Thursday at 9 a.m. to present all the facts on the subject. Before the session, Sleiman met with Mikati to discuss the overall situation and the latest developments.