Army hosts reconciliation gathering in Bekaa Valley

Source: Daily Star, 19-06-2008

Meeting gathers groups involved in deadly clashes

By Hussein Abdallah

BEIRUT: A reconciliation meeting sponsored by the Lebanese Armed Forces at a military barracks in the Bekaa Valley town of Ablah on Wednesday brought together party representatives, municipal officials, local administration aides, spiritual leaders, and social dignitaries as part of an attempt to achieve reconciliation in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa, the scene of bloody battles between pro-government and opposition forces in the towns of Saadnayel and Taalabaya.

Three people were killed and several wounded in fighting, the worst violence since a nascent process of reconciliation got under way following the Doha agreement last month.

Security Sources told The Daily Star on Wednesday that the meeting in Ablah arrived at a gentlemen's agreement between the feuding parties, who reportedly committed not to resort to any form of internal strife and to hand over security in the area to the Lebanese Army exclusively.

The sources said army officials told the different parties that any renewal of clashes in the area will be viewed as a violation of national security and a challenge to the Lebanese Army as well as to the new president.

"Sunni, Shiite and Christian families exchanged hugs and kisses at the meeting in an effort to ease the tension after the deadly clashes," they said.

Taalabaya is a predominantly Shiite village, while Saadnayel is predominantly Sunni.

The security sources also said the army had received pictures of arm caches in Taalabaya and will likely take the necessary measures to put an end to the arms race in the area.

Saadnayel and Taalabaya were also the scene of fighting earlier this month that left four people wounded.

President Michel Suleiman is to host a meeting next Tuesday of Lebanon's senior clergymen from all sects in an effort to "encourage national reconciliation," an official from the presidential palace said earlier.