REPORT: Charbel says Tripoli events are a tragedy

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said on Tuesday that the events taking place in Tripoli are a tragedy, noting that the gunmen are violating the orders of their leaders.         

Prior to the Central Security Council meeting expected to be held at the Ministry of Interior to discuss the security situation, Charbel stressed that all the ministers are expressing solidarity in order to end the strife.            

On the other hand, Charbel noted that the Syrian crisis is affecting Lebanon, pointing out that the Lebanese Armed Forces and the other security apparatuses are wisely assuming their duties, within the available capabilities.                

The latest round of violence erupted in Tripoli on Sunday the 19th of May between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh leaving at least 30 persons killed, including 3 LAF members, and more than 300 others wounded.                     

Clashes between the two areas stretch back to decades, but the recent round of fighting was the heaviest.                                  

However, caretaker Minister Charbel explained that, in order to be able to control the situation at the Lebanese-Syrian borders, 100 thousand soldiers must be deployed along the border, while the illegal passages should be closed.                

Commenting on the issue of the Lebanese hostages in Aazaz, Charbel said that mistakes were detected in the list of names if detainees held in Syrian jails who will be released in exchange for the hostages, stating that some of the names were repeated while others are the names of people who are not detained in Syria.              

In this context, he said that the detainees remaining on the list are 81 persons to be exchanged with the hostages.                      

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped on their way back from Iran by insurgents hoping to use them for a prisoner swap on the 22nd of May. Only two have so far been released.    


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