Akkar Isolated by Daher’s Groups, Hizbullah, FPM Open Doors of Dialogue
Source: Lebanese daily, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
Lebanon swings between a political whiff and a security one.
And between the two, US blatant interference remains at the top of concern as some insist on dragging the country to the quagmire.
John McCain in Lebanon and the outcome was: the US Senator crossed all diplomatic norms by a flagrant breach to Lebanese sovereignty. He simply called for establishing a northern buffer zone so that it would turn to a base for smuggling arms and militants from and into Syria.
Amid all this, doubtful movements appeared in Akkar as some hardly do try to impose a devastating sectarian battle in face of the Lebanese Army.
Meanwhile, it seems that the last few hours carried détentes and condensed consultations within the majority's home.
Tension Escalated in Akkar
Security tension escalated in Akkar northern region as gunmen presence, which enjoys the "Future" Movement political cover, in face of the LA warns of a buried conspiracy to be soon unveiled.
According to newspapers, Akkar region is to witness a series of escalatory steps to protest the release of military personnel in the murder case of Sheikh Ahmad Abdul-Wahed and Hussein Mereb at an Army checkpoint in Akkar last May.
The gunmen presence was accompanied by the blockage to a number of roads in the district using makeshift earth berms or rocks, or by pitching tents to hold sit-ins.
"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper stated that "cutting roads led to the isolation of Akkar as wrath spread among the protesters who gave the government until Monday's session to transfer the case to the Judicial Council.
"They threatened to resort to escalatory steps," it added and pointed out that "the contacts which intensified during the day led to the reopening of some of the roads."
LA: Safety Valve
In parallel, visitors to the LA commander Jean Qahwji quoted him as saying: "the army was and will remain the safety valve of stability despite all those who doubt its role in facing the project that aims to sow discord among the Lebanese."
This came as LA units took precautionary measures in Akkar.
In this context, a military source told "as-Safir" that "the army did not interfere in the work of the judiciary or in the investigations."
The source further confirmed that " that the army will not be driven to a confrontation with people."
"The LA is keen on not wasting a drop of blood from its people in all regions, particularly in the North and Akkar," he highlighted.
For its part, "al-Akhbar" daily informed that "the security forces evacuated the squares in the region."
"The campaign also included raised offensive banners against Qahawaji," it mentioned and noted that "the de facto leader of the campaign against the LA is Future Bloc MP Khaled Daher."
The paper added that "things did not remain limited to addressing political messages threatening the LA to limit its deployment in the North, as they went as far as to threaten to bring its role there to a total halt."
"The conflict between the LA and Future backed Salafist movements that are trying to take over the North has been politicized," it said.
Gov't Meets Monday, Consultations Continue
On another level, Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for a governmental session Monday afternoon to discuss "the latest security events, the 2012 draft budget and its appendixes."
In this context, Mikati assured that "contacts are ongoing to find a solution to this issue [Electricity Du Liban contract workers]."
"I hope we will see results soon," he told al-Joumhoria paper.
The daily also learned that the call for Monday's session did not come on the basis of an previous understanding between the PM and the Change and Reform ministers.
"We had to invite for Monday's session out of my responsible position to deal with the security situation that is threatening the country," Mikati stressed.
In remarks to "an-Nahar", his sources expressed confidence that the ministers loyal to Aoun would not boycott the Baabda session.
Similarly, sources close to President Michel Suleiman made similar comments.
"The government has important work to finish," Suleiman's sources said.
On the EDL contract-workers crisis, "al-Akhbar" reported that Energy and Water Minister Gibran Bassil met with the head of the Liaison and Coordination in Hizbullah Wafik Safa.
"The long meeting tackled the current crisis between the two sides," it added and clarified that "their sources keep quiet about what happened in the meeting."
The sources emphasized to the daily that "Friday's meeting and the coming ones will open the door to a meeting between a delegation from Hizbullah and MP Michel Aoun, after removing the causes of tension."
Meanwhile, sources within the EDL workers' follow-up committee told "as-Safir" that "escalation measures will be adopted as of Monday if the wages of [these] workers are not paid, in addition to the postponement of service providers' work until the law is published."
