Sidon’s tense Friday ends without incident

Sidon was spared violence Friday as Salafist Sheikh Ahmad Assir staged a protest that ended without incident amid strict security measures enforced by the Army and Internal Security Forces.

Assir and around 400 of his supporters protested around the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Abra, east of Sidon, demanding the departure of what he claimed were Hezbollah-linked men in apartments located near the mosque. Assir said he would hold a sit-in in the same place Saturday, adding that the protests would intensify unless his demands are met.

The Army and ISF deployed heavily in the area and prevented protesters from approaching the apartments.

Addressing worshippers during Friday’s sermon prior to the sit-in, Assir said it would take place in the vicinity of the mosque as the Army requested, urging them not to clash with the soldiers “who are our children.”

In Abdeh, Akkar, residents held a sit-in at the town’s roundabout in solidarity with Assir.

Sources from Sidon voiced surprise over what they called the exaggeration of Assir’s activities by the March 8 coalition, which it said is neglecting the motivations behind his actions: The spread of illegal arms in Sidon.

The sources said the South Lebanon Security Council failed to tackle the issue of armed presence of other groups in the city during its meeting, particularly Hezbollah and its allies, who sources said went on alert Friday in several neighborhoods.