UN's Ban urges the LAF to remain loyal to President Sleiman

        
The United States has voiced deep concerns over the latest battles that pitted fighters backing the Imam of Bilal bin Rabbah mosque Sheikh Ahmad Assir against the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in the southern city of Sidon.           

In this regard, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed on Monday to the LAF to remain loyal to President Michel Sleiman as sectarian tensions fueled by the Syrian crisis mounted.          
"Ban denounces the attacks on the LAF, which have led to serious losses in the army," said UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey.            

Ban "stresses that all the parties in Lebanon should fully respect the authority of the state and its institutions under the leadership of President Sleiman, in particular the LAF whose role is essential to protect all Lebanese."           

For his part, U.S. State Department Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell said the US “is deeply concerned by the violent clashes in Sidon".         

“We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks by militants against the LAF, which have resulted in the deaths of a number of soldiers and civilians,” he said.         

“This is the time for the international community to stand with Lebanon and responsible Lebanese leaders in defense of the interests of the Lebanese people for a stable and sovereign country,” Ventrell added.           

In this regard, Ventrell praised the calls for calm issued by President Michel Sleiman, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and other high-ranking political and religious leaders.           

Clashes had raged between LAF soldiers and supporters of Sheikh Assir in Sidon, leaving at least 16 soldiers killed and more than 70 others wounded.                   

The LAF martyrs were identified as First Sergeant Toni Youssef Hazouri, Sergeant Omar Haitham Youssef, Corporal Abdel Karim Qabalan Teaimeh, Soldiers Johnny Antoine Nicolas, Wassim Saleh Hamdan, Bilal Abdallah Idriss.                     

In contrast, 35 of Assir’s partisans were also reported killed in Sidon’s clashes. The Lebanese Red Cross announced that 78 injured were transported out of Abra.