Lebanon Admits to Detentions

The Lebanese government, in its first response to opposition allegations of widespread arrests of Christians, said Saturday that security forces had detained a number of people suspected of involvement in violence.

One opposition politician said that up to 200 people had been detained, but the government gave no figures.

Prosecutor General Adnan Addoum said the detentions followed increased activities by “disruptive elements” who wanted to harm Lebanon’s ties with brotherly and friendly countries, an apparent reference to Syria.

Addoum said the activities included “armed attacks against civilians with hand grenades and firing with machine guns at a van carrying Syrian workers, killing the driver and wounding some passengers . . . distributing leaflets attacking state officials and inciting sectarian strife.”

He gave no give details of when and where the attacks took place.