Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab issued on Friday a statement about the riots that took place in the northern city of Tripoli.
“Condemnation messages are just not enough to compensate Tripoli for the high prices it has been paying by being exploited to deliver fiery political messages.
Tripoli's losses are not limited to an attempt to obliterate its heritage and history, but rather to tampering and rioting aimed at distorting its image, its present, and its solid determination to face challenges.
The criminals who torched Tripoli municipality, attempted to set ablaze the Sharia Court, and wreaked havoc in the city and its official, educational and economic institutions, have expressed deep hatred against Tripoli and its vigor.
The challenge now is to shoot down the goals of these criminals by arresting them, one by one, and referring them to the judiciary so that they are held accountable for their acts committed against Tripoli and its steadfast people.
The challenge is also to open an investigation that defines responsibilities in allowing this flagrant and persistent violation of Tripoli's streets and institutions.
For our part, we embrace the challenge of thwarting the plan of the abusers by pledging to act swiftly to rehabilitate Tripoli municipality building, so that it can remain a symbol of the city's glory and its pure heritage deeply rooted throughout history.”