The Lebanese army released a statement Monday warning people against "instigating citizens to riot," reported the Daily Star newspaper, saying the call came in response to the distribution of flyers on Sunday and Monday by members of the Free Patriotic Movement.
The flyers consisted of a copy of exiled former army commander Michel Aoun's weekly statements which are regularly published in local newspapers, it added.
In last week's statement, Aoun called on people to "express your vote against Syrian occupation by taking to the streets."
The movement's press office released a counter-statement, accusing the army of "exceeding its authority" when it chose to address an internal issue that falls under the interior ministry's jurisdiction, said the Daily Star.
"Aoun's calling on Lebanese citizens to practice their constitutional rights and refusal of occupation is an invitation to peaceful protest," said the movement's statement.
A source close to the movement's press office told the paper that the authorities could not justify silencing people because it anticipated riots that may not happen.
"Protesting peacefully is a constitutional right," the source added.
Meanwhile, the paper said that two female students at Tripoli's law school were allegedly assaulted by two Syrian students, when the former were distributing the flyers.
Within the same context, the Patriotic Movement organized Monday an exhibition displaying pictures of the bruised limbs and methods of torture experienced by Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons, said the paper.
“This is a message so that they’ll not be forgotten,” said Riad Shehab, a movement member who supervised the exhibit.
Although Syrian authorities handed over 46 Lebanese detainees to the authorities here last year, families of those who are allegedly still detained in Syria insist there are hundreds more in Syrian prisons.
The exhibition displayed testimonies and letters from Lebanese who are allegedly still being held in Syrian prisons.
“Before” and “after” photos of released prisoners also portrayed the suffering they had experienced in detention, the Daily star said.
In another development, the paper said that the army set up a number of road blocks in Sidon and its immediate suburbs on Monday.
The army did not comment on the roadblocks, which came less than a week after a pro-Israeli ring was discovered, said the paper.
Local observers, however, said that the army activities were connected to the arrests.
Foot and car patrols blocked the city's main arteries and the villages bordering it, including Hlalieh, Abra, Majdalyoun, Salhieh, Qrayyeh and Ain Delb.
Roadblocks were set up at the Nijmeh, Elia, Martyrs and Serail roundabouts, said the Daily Star, adding that vehicles were searched, and drivers' identification papers were checked.
A number of persons without proper identification cards were arrested on Monday, while a number of vehicles were impounded for not having proper ownership papers - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
