Gemayel: Nasrallah's call for protests harmful to Lebanon

Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel slammed Monday Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s call for a series of protests against a film insulting Prophet Mohammad and questioned Hezbollah’s ability to ensure the protests remained peaceful. “Is this the way to defend the Quran and Muslim figures? We saw what happened in Tripoli where one person was killed in the protest,” Gemayel said in a news conference in Bekfaya, north of Beirut. “Rather, such a reaction further harms Islam because this is the worst way to express innocent feelings,” he added. On Sunday, a group of protesters burned American and Israeli flags in Tripoli, north Lebanon. One protester was also killed and over 27 others were injured Friday when stone-throwing demonstrators protesting “Innocence of Muslims” that insults the Prophet Mohammad clashed with authorities. The protesters also set fire to U.S. food chains KFC and Hardee’s. Nasrallah called Sunday for a series of protests starting with a demonstration in Beirut’s southern suburbs at 5 p.m. against the film which he described as “very dangerous and unprecedented.” In a speech televised on Al-Manar television, Nasrallah also accused the White House of seeking to sow strife between Christians and Muslims. In his chat with reporters, Gemayel also said that “the current circumstances in Lebanon cannot tolerate such a call in this manner.” “Inflaming instincts in such a way leads to unknown results,” he added. In his speech Sunday, Nasrallah said: “Tomorrow, and in the coming days you should bear your responsibility in the Arab world the world as a whole. They should see the rage in your faces and feel it in your screams,” he added. “The whole world should know that this prophet has followers regardless of how great t5he sacrifices might be,” Nasrallah, who said the U.S. should be held accountable for the making and broadcasting of the movie, said. Gemayel also condemned the kidnapping of a Lebanese man in the Metn Town of Bsallim earlier Monday, urging security agencies to do its best to end such a phenomenon. “Abductions in Lebanon are organized and have become an everyday occurrence ... and this is not acceptable,” the former president said. The Daily Star