National News Agency
Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, issued last night the following statement:
“What happened in Tripoli tonight is an organized crime. All who colluded in undermining the stability of the city, burning its institutions and its municipality and occupying its streets in chaos, bear responsibility for this crime.
"Those who set fire to Tripoli are criminals who do not belong to the city and its people, and they stabbed its security and dignity in the name of livelihood. It is unacceptable, under any livelihood or political slogan, to stab Tripoli, from any party or group, whatever its color and affiliation.
"We stand with our people in Tripoli and the North, and we ask, with them: Why did the Lebanese Army stand by, watching the Serail, the municipality and the facilities being burned, and who will protect Tripoli if the army fails to protect it?”
Hariri called on those responsible to assume responsibility and rejected accusations against Tripoli people and the return to the “Kandahar tune”.
He added: “If there is a plan for extremism to infiltrate the city, who is opening the doors for it? How can the state allow this in one of the worst and most dangerous stages in the history of Lebanon? Tripoli will not fall into the hands of the instigators. Its people will protect it hopefully."
“What happened in Tripoli tonight is an organized crime. All who colluded in undermining the stability of the city, burning its institutions and its municipality and occupying its streets in chaos, bear responsibility for this crime.
"Those who set fire to Tripoli are criminals who do not belong to the city and its people, and they stabbed its security and dignity in the name of livelihood. It is unacceptable, under any livelihood or political slogan, to stab Tripoli, from any party or group, whatever its color and affiliation.
"We stand with our people in Tripoli and the North, and we ask, with them: Why did the Lebanese Army stand by, watching the Serail, the municipality and the facilities being burned, and who will protect Tripoli if the army fails to protect it?”
Hariri called on those responsible to assume responsibility and rejected accusations against Tripoli people and the return to the “Kandahar tune”.
He added: “If there is a plan for extremism to infiltrate the city, who is opening the doors for it? How can the state allow this in one of the worst and most dangerous stages in the history of Lebanon? Tripoli will not fall into the hands of the instigators. Its people will protect it hopefully."
