Region | Lebanon

Sunni groups freeze deal with Hezbollah

The two Muslim leaders who announced the freezing of the reconciliation agreement with Hezbollah on Tuesday told Gulf News on Wednesday that the Salafi movement in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, is working together in preparation for a better Sunni-Shiite settlement in Lebanon.

  • By Duraid Al Baik, Associate Editor
  • Published: 23:43 August 20, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: The two Muslim leaders who announced the freezing of the reconciliation agreement with Hezbollah on Tuesday told Gulf News on Wednesday that the Salafi movement in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, is working together in preparation for a better Sunni-Shiite settlement in Lebanon.

Dr Hassan Al Shahhal, Chief of Faith, Justice and Philanthropy Society in Tripoli told Gulf News that he has frozen the eight-point agreement with Hezbollah, which he signed on behalf of his group and other 18 Salafi groups bowing to pressure from other Salafi factions in the city.

Al Shahhal signed the agreement with representatives from Hezbollah at Al Safir Heliopolitan Hotel in Beirut on Monday, but decided to freeze the deal a day later.

Appearing in a press conference alongside his brother-in-law and cousin Da'ie Al Islam Al Shahhal, Chief of Guidance and Philanthropy Society, Dr Hassan said that the agreement which was meant to ease tension between Shiite and Sunnis was misunderstood by some Sunni factions in the city and he would need more time to explain it.

Bitter taste

Many Sunnis still have a bitter taste in their mouths after Hezbollah fighters stormed Beirut in May and occupied the downtown area.

Dr Hassan's move was criticised by Da'ie Al Islam Al Shahhal, who represents a major Salafi faction in the city. Da'ie Al Islam told Gulf News that he was not against the agreement in principle but would like to see more preparation with Hezbollah.

"I am against using religion in political differences, but what happened in Beirut was not acceptable and hurt every Sunni citizen in Lebanon. We need the agreement to unite Lebanese; not to aggravate their differences," he said.

He expects more contacts and transparent talks with Hezbollah before signing such an agreement.

Gulf News also learned that Hezbollah sent a message to the signatory of the agreement in which it thanked them for their brave move and accepted their reasons to freeze the agreement.

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