Arms 'smuggled' between Syria, Lebanon

Lebanese defence minister Fayez Ghosn said in remarks published on Sunday that “arms are definitely been smuggled” to Syria via Lebanon. Ghosn told Lebanon's An-Nahar newspaper that President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati were aware of the issue. “[Arms] are being smuggled, and the army is [addressing the issue] as much as it can.” He added, however, that actions of “weapons smuggling” were increasing because they were “profitable.” “We are controlling [this issue] within our capabilities, and the army is dealing strictly with it.” Asked about his statements on the presence of al-Qaeda in Lebanon, Ghosn said: “I mentioned this to warn the Lebanese people against division.” “The wave of terrorism may [harm] everyone. No party should consider itself protected because [terrorist groups] have plans and [ambitions] that are different than ours.” He also said that “unfortunately” some people “politicised” his statement on al-Qaeda and requested him to step down, adding that the relevant authorities were fulfilling their duties to detain gangs and cells that aim to harm security. In December, the defence minister warned against the presence of al-Qaeda cells in the town of Aarsal, which is near the Syrian border. Asked about aid to the Lebanese army, the minister said many envoys “promised” to provide donations or sell low-priced equipment to the Lebanese army, adding, however, that “unfortunately” this has not happened “until now.” “The Italians, the French and others promised us, but we were only [provided] with [a little]. We call on them to [own up to] their promises.”