Suleiman calls for dialogue to resolve disputes

President Michel Suleiman urged officials on Friday to resort to dialogue in order to resolve any dispute or problem. He expressed relief for the adopted measures in the northern city of Tripoli, hoping that the tranquil security situation would remain in the city. He contacted Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and several other officials. Suleiman was briefed about the measures under taken by the security forces in order to preserve security, stability, and civil peace. Clashes sparked over the weekend in Tripoli between the mainly Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Alawite Jabal Mohsen after the General Security Department detained Islamist Shadi al-Mawlawi on charges of belonging to a terrorist group. Sectarian clashes between residents of the two districts earlier this week left nine people dead and some 50 wounded and raised fears that the revolt in Syria could engulf its tiny neighbor.