Naharnet

Berri Calls on Army to Preserve Security throughout Lebanon

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that the raids the army carried out in Beirut's southern suburb is a “natural” endeavor that should be implemented throughout Lebanese territories, local newspapers reported.

“AMAL movement and Hizbullah support the army in its mission to preserve security,” Berri told As Safir newspaper.

He expressed confidence in the patriotism of the military institution and its leadership.

Berri wondered in comments published in An Nahar about the fuss around the raids carried out by the army, saying “Beirut's southern suburb isn't an isolated island.”

“The state is required to extend its authority everywhere... and to detain all drug dealers,” the speaker said.

He pointed out that the resistance was established to defend the state and not to replace it, thus “we call on the army to activate its presence” throughout Lebanon.

The army arrested several people over the weekend in Rweiss neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs following a string of kidnappings of Syrian nationals and a Turkish businessman by members of al-Meqdad clan in retaliation to the seizure of Hassan al-Meqdad, who was allegedly abducted in Syria by the Free Syrian Army.

It also confiscated a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment hidden in a vehicle in Rweiss.

On the new wages scale for public employees that was approved by the cabinet last week, Berri noted that the draft law will be referred to the competent parliamentary committee to study it according to norms.

“If the government united in defending the draft law, it will pass in the (parliament's) general assembly, as it has the parliamentary majority, if not, then the government will have to assume its responsibility,” he added.

On Thursday, the cabinet approved during a session at the Baabda Palace the new salaries scale for public employees ending a long dispute that prompted the Syndicate Coordination Committee to hold several sit-ins and strikes.

According to An Nahar newspaper, Berri held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Sunday and the two are expected to meet utmost on Tuesday.


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