Mokdads take to the streets, Charbel calls for calm

13^min

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel made his way to Hadi Nasrallah Highway where members of the Mokdad clan had been protesting throughout the morning.

Minister Charbel and a delegation from the Mokdad Clan earlier met in the American Neighborhood, Roueiss and discussed means of diffusing the situation.

Previously, Police Chief Brigadier Joseph Doueihy reached the site of the demonstration held by members from the Mokdad clan whereby he confirmed that Minister Charbel was exerting his utmost efforts to settle the situation.

"Let us have faith in the Lebanese judiciary, because if we fail to do so then all hell will break lose," Minister Charbel said to the protesters. "The country is passing through a delicate situation. We have to cooperate," he added.

Hours later the Hadi Nasrallah highway reopened after an agreement was reached between the two parties. The clan will await for the trials to proceed on the 18th of December.

Thursday morning saw a massive demonstrations held by clansmen from the Mokdad family whereby the Sayyed Hadi Nasrallah Highway was entirely cut-off with iron barriers, trash cans and tents in protest of the delay to launch trials against member of the clan who were arrested months ago on charges of forming an armed organization and kidnapping foreigners.

The family members raised banners reading “Our sons are not terrorists; they are oppressed.”

Speaking to LBCI, father of Hassan Mokdad who remains kidnapped in Syria said that the clan would continue taking escalatory steps so that the government would heed their calls. However he stressed that their movements will only be limited to peaceful means and demonstrations, placing all accountability on the government in general and on Interior Minister Marwan Charbel specifically.

Commenting on Charbel's alleged refusal to come to the location of the demonstration, the senior Mokdad said that it confirms one thing, that there are double standards being applied when it comes to their case, adding that Minister Charbel “crawls” over to the “hooligans in Sidon”, but fails to show up before the “honorable”.

Military sources told LBCI that the Lebanese Armed Forces will reopen the Hadi Nasrallah Highway, adding that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel contacted the LAF Command demanding some time to settle the issue.

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