BEIRUT - The founder of the Salafist movement in Lebanon, Sheikh Daïyatalislam Chahhal, refuses the idea of signing an agreement with the Hezbollah.

Many representatives of the Shiite movement as well as fifteen Salafist groups gathered in Beirut this morning to sign an “understanding document”, which is supposed to ease the tensions between the Sunnis and the Shiites in Lebanon.

“This document is pro-Hezbollah and it controls a Shiite propaganda. If it is signed, it would be at the expense of the Sunnis”, declared Sheikh Daïyatalislam Chahhal who is considered as the « spiritual leader » of the Salafists in Tripoli.

“Those who accept this document are not representatives of the salafist movement, they have no influence”, he added.

However, Sheikh Daïyatalislam Chahhal made it clear that he was open for dialogue with Hezbollah but not without some reluctance after the events of the 7th of May. “Hezbollah wants to begin a new phase without even apologizing”.