Security will be imposed by force, say officials in Sidon

Red Cross team at scene in Sidon where fighting broke out  between Sunnis and Shiites Sidon is slowly recovering from Sunday’s clashes between Hezbollah supporters and Sunni preacher Sheikh Ahmad Assir. The Lebanese army is controlling both sides and promised to stamp out anyone who disturbs the peace. All institutions will shut on Monday as a mark of respect for the three victims who died in the clashes.
The Interior Minister Marwan Charbel attended an emergency meeting to look into the details of the clashes.
Assir’s two bodyguards died in the clashes. The third was an Egyptian passer-by.
Military leaders have been ordered to open fire on anyone who does not respect the rules, said Charbel.
The Interior Minister said: “There will be no political immunity; security will be imposed by force.”
Member of Parliament Bahia Hariri, the sister of late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, presented her condolences to the victims’ families. She said: “We urge the security and military forces to restore security and peace in the country. Sidon will always be the cornerstone of security in south Lebanon.”
“The president and security officials have been contacted to contain the problem. We need to eliminate the source of racism and disarm the city. All the locals want peace and security.”
The Sidon Merchants Union condemned the attacks and urged all shops to stay closed on Monday in memory of the victims.”
The Secretary General of the Popular Nasserist Organisation Osama Saad, denied any link between the attack and his organisation. He said: “The state needs to take action instead of watching this sort of drama from a distance. If the authorities did not take action the consequences would have been catastrophic.”
On Sunday, Sheikh Al-Assir called on his supporters to take down a Hezbollah banner in Sidon. A clash followed, resulting in three deaths and six injured.