BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt slammed the head of the Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun Thursday, saying he should stop making remarks that reflect negatively on Lebanese expatriates in Arab states.

“It is preferable that some [people] who live in the light of the day and enlighten people with their bright ideas, respect the minds of the Lebanese and their sacrifices abroad.

[They should] help them stay there rather than making fiery remarks,” Jumblatt added.

The Druze leader was responding to Aoun’s criticism of the Arab League and the international community for failing to support the Bahraini people in their uprising, saying that they were suffering “injustice.” Bahrain summoned Lebanon’s charge d’affaires and requested a clarification of the remarks.

“Expressing fewer political opinions, analyses and heroic stances that change nothing will likely spare Lebanese communities in Arab states the dangers that target their stay there,” Jumblatt said in a statement.