[An Nahar] Head of the Mustaqbal... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora on Friday voiced concern that festivities might renew in the southern city of Sidon because of the presence of weapons in the hands of non-state actors.
Saniora voiced his remarks from Abra, a Sidon suburb that witnessed deadly fierce festivities last month between army troops and gunnies loyal to anti-Hizbullah Islamist holy man Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir.
"The main issue is that the residents of the city of Sidon absolutely do not want to see these festivities being repeated in any manner whatsoever," said Saniora as he inspected reconstruction works in Abra.
"As long as weapons exist in the hands of individuals defying the authority of the Lebanese state, especially the authority of the Lebanese army and the security agencies, there is always a possibility that (festivities) might renew every now and then, which would harm the Lebanese, the city's residents and also stability," Saniora warned.
Saniora reiterated his call for turning Sidon into a "weapons-free city."
"This is our main concern ... we want to know the truth and we also want to follow up on the issue of the detainees," the ex-PM said, stressing that the gunnies who attacked the army must be held accountable and "the innocents must be released from jail."