Christian leader calls for calm after grenade attacks

Feb 20, 2009, 14:52 GMT

Beirut - The leader of the anti-Syrian Christian Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, called Friday on his followers to exert self-restraint after grenade attacks on his movement's offices.

'We call on all friends and supporters to maintain full calm following the grenade attacks on our offices Thursday night, because this could be an attempt to drag the LF into irresponsible responses,' he said at a press conference at his residence north-east of Beirut.

Two grenades were tossed overnight at two offices that belong to the LF in the town of Kfour, northeast of Beirut, causing only material damage.

Two other grenades were also found near the offices of the Christian Phalangist party, which is headed by former president Amin Gemayel, and who is also an ally of Geagea.

'Someone is trying to ignite a civil strife in this country and we have to be very careful,' Geagea added.

Geagea and Gemayel, both Christian leaders and outspoken critics of Syria, support the Western-backed majority headed by Saad Hariri. The two Christian leaders are forming a close alliance with Hariri in various sectors of Lebanon to compete in the upcoming parliamentary elections, which is due in June.

But former General Michel Aoun, a prominent Christian leader as well, is siding with the pro-Syrian Hezbollah-led opposition.

Incidents targeting followers of the anti-Syrian camp have been registered in the country since last week.

On February 14, and shortly after a massive rally to mark the fourth anniversary of the killing of former premier Rafik Hariri, followers believed to be from the Hezbollah-led opposition stabbed a member of the ruling majority to death.

The tensions come in the buildup to the June 7 elections to elect a new Lebanese parliament, in a race expected to be very close between the ruling majority and the opposition.

In May 2008 Lebanon witnessed heavy clashes between followers of the opposition and the majority, with the violence killing 82 people and wounding some 300 others.