Hariri condemns attack against Muslim clerics, accuses Syrian regime of creating strife

             
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri warned on Sunday of the dangers that loom in the wake of the attack against the 4 Muslim clerics on Sunday evening, calling on the Lebanese people to exert maximum restraint to prevent sectarian sedition in the country.            

In a statement issued by his press office, Hariri described the assault against the four Sunni Sheikhs on Sunday night as “shameful and disgraceful”, pointing out that a ‘certain’ group is seeking to create Sunni-Shiite strife in the country to benefit the regime of Syrian President Bachar Assad.

Two sheikhs from Dar al-Fatwa, Mazen Hariri and Ahmad Fakhran were attacked on Sunday, in the region of al-Khandak al-Ghamik, while they were heading to Mohammad al-Amin Mosque.                         

The sheikhs were immediately taken to al-Makassed hospital for treatment.                       

The Lebanese Armed Forces arrested 3 persons involved in attacking the Sunni clerics.                        

Subsequently, a number of supporters of the Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya gathered outside the al-Makassed hospital while others cut-off the Corniche Al Mazraa, and Kaskas road to denounce the attack.                  

Imam of the Bilal bin Rabbah mosque Sheikh Ahmad Assir along with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel headed to the al-Makassed hospital.                       

In this context, Minister Charbel said that attackers do not belong to any political party and mentioned that they are drug addicts who are recognized by security apparatuses.                                          

For his part Lebanese President Michel Sleiman denounced the attack, calling for swift investigations.                                                     

The attack was not only limited to the 2 Sheikh in al-Khandak al-Ghamik; reports said that 2 other clerics were attacked in the Shiyah area.                           

One of them was identified as Sheikh Omar Imami born in 1988. He was transported to the Shtoura hospital after receiving first aid treatment in a Beirut hospital.