REPORT: Refaat Eid says Lebanon needs a new Taif accord

                
Secretary General of the Arab Democratic Party leader Refaat Ali Eid held on Tuesday a press conference in which he tackled the security situation in Tripoli.         

Eid noted that clashes erupted in Tripoli after the Syrian army launched an attack on al-Qusayr in Syria.               

He also warned against the worsening of the situation in Tripoli, listing the names of individuals aiding the al-Nusra Front.             

Eid called on Lebanese leaders to be firm while dealing with the situation in the northern Lebanese city.              

He also called on President Michel Sleiman to support the Lebanese Army Commander Jean Kahwagi in dealing with the city's situation.                    

Eid concluded by saying that Lebanon needs a new Taif accord and a state that “imposes” security in Tripoli.                     

On another note, the state-run National News Agency reported that Mayor Ali Ajaya of the Alawite sect was kidnapped from the city early in the morning only to later be released.            
No further information were given in this regard.              

Clashes erupted in Tripoli on Sunday the 19th of May between pro-Syrian regime supporters in the predominantly Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen and pro-revolution fighters in the Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh leaving at least 30 persons killed, including 3 LAF members, and more than 300 others wounded.           

Clashes between the two areas stretch back to decades, but the recent round of fighting was the heaviest.             

On Sunday the 26th of May, clashes eased significantly, while sporadic gunshots were still heard occasionally as Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in al-Kobbeh and Rifa regions, and headed towards Syria Street.             

The port city of Tripoli has long been a stronghold of Sunni Islamists in northern Lebanon.         

But the city has become increasingly volatile in recent months due to the civil war in neighboring Syria, where the Sunni majority is leading a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.


To watch the full LBCI report, please click on the video above.