BEIRUT: Lebanon’s General Security slammed what it described Thursday as unfounded news reports about the security apparatus, calling on the media to verify their information prior to publishing it.

“Certain local newspapers and magazines have for some time been disseminating inaccurate information relating to the Directorate General of the General Security that is false or based on statements of politicians whom 'we respect,’” General Security said in a statement.

Following the deportation of 14 Syrians to their home country last week by General Security, the institution has been under attack by several politicians criticizing the move.

In remarks last week, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt went so far as to call on the Lebanese government to fire “if need be” the head of General Security over the expulsion.

In its statement Thursday, General Security “called on all media outlets and concerned figures to scrutinize their information before making it public,” and added that it left the matter of judging its work to the Lebanese people and government.

“The Directorate General of General Security would like to remind [people] that it is a public security institution that works for the interest of all Lebanese without exception at the behest of the political authority,” the statement said.

The statement did not specify which news reports were unfounded and said that the institution would not be part of media debates.