Beirut - The Christian community in Lebanon has received
warnings of preparations by Sunni fundamentalist groups to launch a
'suicide attack' against a Christian target in northern Lebanon,
local Lebanese media and political sources said Monday.
A Christian political figure, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
said the Lebanese security authorities have been advised to take
extra precautionary measures around churches, monasteries, schools
and universities run by Christian organizations, as well as the seats
of bishops in the northern city of Tripoli and surrounding villages.
The undisclosed source said that many leaders from his community,
including himself, who are from northern Lebanon, were also
threatened by the attacks from such groups, who are believed to be
loyal to the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
'We have received information through Lebanese and international
security departments to be careful of our movements in the coming
days,' the Christian official said.
Lebanese authorities have already tightened security around the
houses of key Christian leaders in northern Lebanon.
'The attackers are aiming to stir up new civil strife between the
Muslims and the Christians in northern Lebanon,' the source said.
Christian figures from Lebanon's anti-Syrian political camp
believe they will be the main targets of such attacks.
On the other hand, Christian figures from the pro-Syrian camp led
by the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah believe that the anti-
Syrian majority is trying to ignite fear among their population in
order to torpedo the May 2009 parliamentary elections.
'The ruling majority knows that they will not be able to harvest
the majority of the new parliament's seats this time and they want to
terrorize the people by spreading such rumors,' said Waeem Wahab, a
member of the opposition.
Since 2005, Lebanon has been hit by a series of political
assassinations, the most provocative being the killing of former
premier Rafik Hariri, which was widely blamed on Syria. Damascus has
vehemently denied such allegations.
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