Lebanon Celebrates Independence Day amid Security Threats

Lebanon celebrated Friday the 70th anniversary of its independence from France with an official ceremony staged in downtown Beirut amid growing fears from the country’s mounting security threats.Lebanese army

Streets leading to the area were cordoned off from the early hours of Friday for the ceremony attended by President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, PM-designate Tammam Salam, diplomats and other dignitaries.

This year’s Independence Day was marred by twin suicide bombings that targeted the Iranian Embassy in Beirut killing 25 people and wounding dozens others.

In a televised speech on the eve of Independence Day, President Michel Sleiman said the latest spate of bombings, including the attack on the Iranian Embassy, have confirmed the threat of “strife and imported terrorism.”

SleimanSleiman said the Lebanese Armed Forces should have the sole monopoly over the use of arms and control defense capabilities. “We cannot talk about independence if the state fails to spread its sole authority over all national territory, crack down on security … violations, fight takfiri [groups] and terrorism, and unless the armed forces are the sole holders of weapons and the organizer of defense capabilities under the supervision of the political authority,” Sleiman said.

The president reiterated his call for all the rival factions to adhere to the Baabda Declaration “in order to protect Lebanon from the negative repercussions of regional crises.”

In the meantime, Speaker Nabih Berri warned of “a dangerous scheme aimed at making Lebanon another Iraq,” and caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn declared that Lebanon was in danger.