Lebanon religious leaders hold summit in Beirut

 Source: Al-Manar, 21-02-2008
A Muslim summit was held at the Higher Muslim Shiite Council headquarters in Beirut's southern suburb joining the Council's Vice President Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabala, Mufti Sheikh Mohamad Rashid Qabbani and Druze religious leader Sheikh Naim Hassan,
The summit comes as Lebanon is passing in a critical stage and sectarian tension. Sheikh Qabalan described the meeting as pacific and reassuring. He conveyed the religious leaders' urgent message to the citizens of Beirut and other areas to reject strife and not carry arms to preserve national unity. The gathering leaders stressed they adhere to the Arab initiative to solve the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, on the foundation of electing army Commander General Michel Suleiman as a consensus president and forming a national unity government based on partnership. They also stressed Lebanon's sole enemy is "Israel" and called on politicians to abandon strained speeches to cool down the tense atmosphere prevailing across the country. The three religious leaders agreed to hold more meetings to be followed by a spiritual Islamic - Christian summit in Bkirki (Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir's headquarters.)