Jumblatt: After Ministerial Statement, National Dialogue to Prevent Country from Sliding into Strife

Local Editor

The head of the National Struggle Front Walid Jumblatt has said that after the ministerial statement, only national dialogue among the country's political factions would prevent the country from "sliding into strife."

In remarks to As-Safir daily on Monday, Jumblatt said: "After the drafting of the cabinet policy statement we should return to the national dialogue table which alone could protect us from the slide into strife and tumult."

The Druze leader told the newspaper that the all-party talks should be aimed at discussing all controversial issues.
"As for the arms of the resistance, discussion on how to absorb them in the state should come at the appropriate time after the liberation of the land from Ghajar and all the way to Shebaa and Kfarshouba," Jumblatt said.

While he said that the authorities were able to contain the deadly clashes between Alawites and Sunnis in the northern port city of Tripoli, the situation remains fragile.