BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that the Army does not differentiate between the Lebanese, and hailed its efforts to preserve the country’s security and stability, a statement issued by the PM’s office said.

“There may be differences between the Lebanese political rivals, but what should bind them is their support for the Army, which has proven that it works for all the Lebanese people without discriminating between them,” Mikati said during a meeting with Army Commander General Jean Kahwagi.

Mikati dismissed skepticism in the military institution’s abilities as unjustified, asserting that the Army is pursuing a policy of “consensual security” in order to address security issues in a manner both firm and calm.

“The Lebanese Army is for all Lebanon, and must remain so, away from interim or personal interests,” the prime minister added.

According to the statement, Mikati and Kawagi addressed the recent Army raids in the area of Rways and other southern suburbs, as well as those in the northern city of Tripoli. Discussions also touched on the preparations for Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit to Lebanon.

The Army arrested several people over the weekend in the neighborhood of Rways, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, following a string of kidnappings of Syrian nationals and a Turkish businessman by the Meqdad clan in retaliation for the seizure of Hassan Meqdad, who was abducted in Syria by the Free Syrian Army.

The Lebanese Army also confiscated a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment hidden in a vehicle in Rways.