Diab Warns against Riots in Tripoli as Protesters Torch Municipality HQ

  In a statement on Friday, Diab said “condemnation messages are just not enough to compensate Tripoli for the high prices it has been paying by being exploited to deliver fiery political messages.” He noted that the losses in Tripoli are not limited to an attempt to obliterate its heritage and history, “but rather to tampering and rioting aimed at distorting its image, its present, and its solid determination to face challenges.” “The criminals who torched Tripoli municipality, attempted to set ablaze the Sharia Court, and wreaked havoc in the city and its official, educational and economic institutions, have expressed deep hatred against Tripoli and its vigor,” Dib said as quoted by National News Agency (NNA). The premier noted that the “challenge” now is to arrest all those who were involved in the riots and hold them accountable. “The challenge is also to open an investigation that defines responsibilities in allowing this flagrant and persistent violation of Tripoli’s streets and institutions.” “For our part, the challenge which we are committed to is to thwart the plan of the abusers by pledging to act swiftly to rehabilitate Tripoli municipality building, so that it can remain a symbol of the city’s glory and its pure heritage deeply rooted throughout history,” the PM concluded his statement. Earlier on Thursday night, clashes continued in Tripoli for the fourth consecutive night, with protesters stormed and torched the municipality headquarters in the city. Several local media outlets quoted security sources as warning that some foreign-backed political sides have been seeking chaos in Tripoli under the pretext of hard livelihood conditions amid the full lockdown which Lebanon has been witnessing over surge in coronavirus infections and deaths. Source: Al-Manar and NNA