BEIRUT: Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called for strengthening Lebanese unity in light of the “highly volatile” situation prevailing in the Arab world.

“The region is passing through a decisive and grave time which necessitates all Lebanese to strengthen internal unity," Mikati said during an iftar late Monday in honor of civil society and other figures from Tripoli and north Lebanon.

"We must prevent the danger from reaching our delicate internal structure which cannot afford any destruction or teenage politics that could cause severe damage to national unity,” he added.

“Where would Lebanon’s interest lie if it were plunged into the turbulence surrounding us?” Mikati asked.

He called on the rival political camps -- March 8 and March 14 -- to combine efforts ito “strengthen stability and cooperate in order to allow the government to do its duty to ease the social burdens of day-to-day life on the Lebanese people.”