Lebanese security authorities said Saturday that Sunni cleric Ahmed al Assir who was arrested in Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport was trying to flee to Nigeria through Cairo International Airport as a transit stop.

"Assir had an entry visa to Nigeria and a forged Palestinian travel document," the Lebanese Public Security Directorate said in a statement.

Well-informed security sources told MENA that neither Assir nor his escort had an entry visa to Egypt.

Assir is wanted for attacks on the Lebanese army before he tried to flee the country.