Officials Welcome Saudi King’s Call for Dialogue among Lebanese Foes

Lebanese officials welcomed on Wednesday Saudi King Abdullah’s call for national dialogue among Lebanese foes in an attempt to steer Lebanon clear of regional disputes, local newspapers reported.

Speaker Nabih Berri said that King Abdullah’s letter to President Michel Suleiman is a “direct” and “explicit” call for resumption of dialogue between Lebanese foes amid the critical situation the country is passing through.

“It clearly supports the Lebanese state’s policy to disassociate itself from the developments in Syria,” he told As Safir newspaper.

Abdullah said on Tuesday that the kingdom is monitoring the situation in Lebanon with “deep concern” following the clashes in the northern city of Tripoli, “especially since they targeted a main sect in the country.”

He urged Suleiman in a cable to end the crisis through his call for national dialogue and keenness to keep Lebanon away from regional disputes, most notably the Syrian crisis.

The speaker said that if the President called for the resumption of the all-party talks, then he will be the first to attend.

“My ambition is to launch an open dialogue among all parties in order to preserve Lebanon and avoid the threats,” Berri told An Nahar.

For his part, Prime Minister Najib Miqati said that the Saudi King’s letter confirms that the government’s decision to disassociate itself from the turmoil in the neighboring country Syria was right.

He called on the officials to read well the letter and to stop their “irresponsible” approach.

“Our unity will stop the others from any attempt to target Lebanon,” Miqati told As Safir.

He pointed out that the country is passing through a “difficult time, but if we act responsibly, we will be able to overcome this stage with the slightest losses.”

March 14 coalition sources told An Nahar newspaper that King Abdullah’s letter is a clear Arab warning that the “situation can’t remain the same” under the supervision of the current cabinet.

“A real national dialogue should include all the issues not only Tripoli, as if the problem is limited to a certain area or group,” the sources stated.

Clashes erupted last week in Tripoli between the two rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen after the General Security Department detained Islamist Shadi al-Mawlawi on charges of belonging to a terrorist group.

On Sunday the clashes spilled to Akkar after Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed was shot dead along with his companion Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Merheb at an army checkpoint in the northern town of al-Kweikhat.

The tension soon spread to Beirut where several areas of the Lebanese capital were blocked by burning tires. Clashes also erupted near the Beirut Arab University in Tariq al-Jedideh between supporters of al-Mustaqbal Movement and Arab Movement party.