BEIRUT: Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Wednesday that the call for peace made by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz at the start of the Syrian conflict should be answered immediately to preserve the stability of the region.

Charbel made his comments while participating in the 30th session of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council in Riyadh.

“The Baabda Declaration was sponsored by President Michel Sleiman, and adopted by the Cabinet as well as members of the National Dialogue committee in order to contain the repercussions of the Syrian crisis,” Charbel said.

“The Cabinet is committed to supporting all the Syrian families [in Lebanon] within their means and without any discrimination,” he added.

“Lebanon needs urgent aid, especially from Arab countries in order for the Cabinet to continue offering humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, whose numbers are increasing on daily basis,” Charbel said.