Qabalan calls on politicians to shed arrogance

Source: Daily Star, 13-05-2008
Higher Shiite (Muslim) Council vice president Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan called on the Lebanese on Monday to hold dialogue.
"We do not want to attack anyone and we do not accept injustice even if we were treated unjustly," Qabalan said. "If we want to settle the ongoing discords, we have to resort to Parliament and reach consensus over solutions."
Qabalan said he welcomed a visit that is to be paid by an Arab delegation on Wednesday in a bid to bring the ongoing fighting to an end. "We thank Arab attempts to settle the current crisis and launch a national dialogue that has been called for by Speaker Nabih Berri," he said. "Politicians should meet, make concessions for the sake of their country and get rid of their arrogance."
The sheikh praised the "wisdom and courage" of the Lebanese Army, while denouncing the "spread of weapons in the Lebanese people's hands."
"The army constitutes the salvation of Lebanon and the guarantee to save it and preserve civil peace in it," Qabalan said. "But civilians should be deprived of weapons in order for the country to live in security."