Future bloc holds extraordinary meeting in Tripoli

Future bloc held on Monday an extraordinary meeting in Tripoli to tackle the city's latest developments.

Following the meeting Future bloc MP Samir el Jisr read a statement on behalf of the party in which he said that Tripoli's "explosions affected the entire country, not only the northern Lebanese city."

On Friday the 23rd of August, two explosions rocked the city of Tripoli near the al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques, leaving 45 killed and almost 500 others injured.

MP el Jisr added that the blasts will not undermine the Lebanese people's solidarity in addressing the Mamlouk-Samaha plots.

Former Minister Michel Samaha was arrested on Thursday 9th of August by the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch on suspicion of involvement in a plot to carry out terrorist attacks in Lebanon in collaboration with Syria.

He was charged by the government’s deputy commissioner at the Military Tribunal on 11th of August 2012, alongside Syrian National Security Bureau head Ali Mamlouk and a Syrian army officer identified as Brig. Gen. Adnan with plotting to assassinate political and religious figures in Lebanon and carrying out terrorist attacks.

The bloc also accused Hezbollah of causing tension to the security situation in Lebanon due to its military involvement in the Syrian crisis.

The Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group has openly declared its members are fighting alongside Syrian President Bachar Assad's forces against the Syrian rebels, who enjoy both sympathy and support from many in Lebanon's Sunni community.

Hezbollah's role in the Syrian civil war has sent sectarian tensions soaring in Lebanon, and clashes on the country's streets have erupted on numerous occasions in recent months.

On another note el-Jisr called for the swift formation of a new government to spare the country further repercussions of the regional conflicts.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced the cabinet's resignation on Friday March 22, after talks deadlocked over the extension of Internal Security Forces chief Major General Ashraf Riff's mandate and the formation of an Election Supervisory Committee.

Tammam Salam was tasked with forming a new government on the 6th of April 2013.