Uneasy calm reigns in Tripoli, Sakqr to decide on Mawlawi's release tomorrow

The confrontation between Shadi el-Mawlawi and the arrested Jordanian national came to an end as Government commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr is expected to decide tomorrow whether to release al-Mawlawi or not.      

Shadi el-Mawlawi’s brother had earlier told LBCI that if his brother is not released by the afternoon, all entries leading to Al Nour Square will be closed and the sit-in will continue.         

Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the general prosecutor in north Lebanon; the lawsuit was referred to the Military General Prosecution in Beirut.        

Safadi stressed that he is collaborating with PM Najib Mikati and the ministers to find solutions that would maintain both the security and dignity of Tripoli. Safadi called for supporting the LAF and the security forces in their difficult mission.        

Meanwhile, PM Najib Mikati headed a meeting with security leaders in his residence in Tripoli, and asked them to set fixed checkpoints in the city’s streets to restore security and arrest gunmen. These checkpoints are expected to be set in less than half an hour.        

In this regard, House Speaker Nabih Berri met with the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon and they looked into the possibility of calling on the dialogue poles to hold a meeting on the situation in Tripoli.        

In the field, an uneasy calm is reigning in Tripoli amid heavy deployment of LAF and ISF in the city’s streets and squares. They are setting fixed checkpoints and carrying out motorized patrols.     
Clashes had renewed Thursday morning between Bab el-Tebbaneh, Jabal Mohsen, al-Zahiriyya and al-Bakkar in Tripoli, killing child Abded al-Rahim Mohammad Hamad and injuring 10 people including two soldiers.        

It was reported that private schools closed their doors and universities suspended classes.