Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri lamented on Tuesday the current state of affairs in Lebanon, slamming the “kidnappings, sniper activity, blocking of roads, and clan military wings.”

Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri lamented on Tuesday the current state of affairs in Lebanon, slamming the “kidnappings, sniper activity, blocking of roads, and clan military wings,” local Naharnet news website reported.

He asked in a statement: “Where is the role of the political authorities and parties regarding the latest developments?”

“Who has prepared all of this evil against Lebanon?” he continued.

Berri slammed “the division of regions in Lebanon, in a country that is too small to be divided.”

“Has the country turned into a number of sectarian and factional patches?” asked the speaker.

“Don’t we realize that those who kidnapped our sons want to kidnap the whole of Lebanon?” he wondered.

“Everyone wants Lebanon for himself, but what are the Lebanese people left with?” he continued.

On the ongoing clashes in the northern city of Tripoli between the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen since Monday, Berri told As Safir daily newspaper Wednesday that its merely part of the Syrian turmoil’s repercussions on Lebanon.

“Some parties are trying to slip the country into the turmoil in Syria, knowing that the developments in the region can significantly affect Lebanon,” he pointed out.

He called on all parties to assume their national responsibilities amid “this critical stage.”

Seven people were killed and 70 others were injured and 9 Lebanese army soldiers were wounded in clashes that erupted during Eid al-Fitr between the two districts of Tripoli.