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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Tripoli Muslim Scholars Accuse State of Protecting Gunmen in City |
| 2014-01-21 |
| [An Nahar] Salafist holy man Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi accused on Monday the Arab Democratic Party of being behind the latest round of festivities in the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... . He added after a meeting of Moslem scholars in light of the new round of unrest: "The state is protecting Ali and Rifaat Eid ...secretary general of the Leb Arab Democratic Party, a Pencilneck regime front organization... and allowing them to launch attacks in the city." Ali Eid is the head of the Arab Democratic Party and his son Rifaat is the party's politburo chief. Moreover, Rafehi accused Hizbullah of backing the party and its actions in the city. "Hizbullah is exploiting the state's agencies in order to protect the Jabal Mohsen gang," he declared. "We demand that President Michel Suleiman ...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too... intervene in order to halt the unjust practices against Sunnis," he stressed. "The allies of the Syrian regime want to portray the residents of Tripoli as bully boyz and krazed killers," he continued. "The residents targeted in the fighting are exercising their right to defend themselves after the state's lax approach in maintaining calm," Rafehi noted. "How is it that criminals behind lesser crimes are tossed in the calaboose Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! and those behind major ones, whose identities are known, are allowed to roam free?" he wondered. "The people consequently sense that the state is not protecting them," he lamented. He mad his remarks in reference to charges against Ali Eid over his links to the August 2013 twin bombings that targeted the al-Taqwa and al-Salam Sunni mosques in Tripoli. Eid has refused to adhere to summons for questioning in the case, citing health reasons. He is suspected of smuggling to Syria Ahmed Merhi, who is the suspected driver of the explosive-laden vehicle that blew up near al-Taqwa mosque. |
| Posted by:Fred |