BEIRUT: Lebanon's Muslim religious leaders gathered at the Druze sect's headquarters in Beirut Tuesday to denounce the political deadlock plaguing the country and its "negative and dangerous repercussions." The summit was attended by Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, Higher Shiite Council vice president Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, and Sheikh Akl Naim Hassan.

The meeting of the top spiritual leaders from the Sunni, Shiite and Druze sects, respectively, is extremely rare in Lebanon.

"The Lebanese should be aware that divisions [between the parliamentary majority and the opposition] are threatening national unity, which Lebanon's enemies are taking advantage of in order to distort our country's civilized nature, stab its unity and hamper its march toward progress and prosperity," Mohammad Sammak, the designated spokesperson for the summit, said after the meeting.

The religious leaders stressed the need to "cling to national unity and fully implement the Taif Accord," he added.

While highlighting the need for all parties to respect the freedom of speech and diversity within Lebanese society, the spokesman said the sheikhs also voiced rejection of any foreign interference in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Support was also expressed for "revealing the truth" behind last week's murder of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel and trying those accused of the "horrible crime" before an international tribunal. The clerics also hailed the resistance and the Lebanese Army for the "sacrifices they made during this summer's war with Israel."

They called on all governmental institutions and civil society organizations to focus on the "deteriorating living conditions" in which many Lebanese are living, "in order to put an end to immigration and find solutions to the issues of poverty and unemployment."

After the summit, the clerics met with Speaker Nabih Berri.

"We asked Berri to launch a quick and urgent initiative in order to halt the dangerous decline which the country is witnessing," Qabbani said.

"We call on all parties not to resort to the streets because it is the only guarantee to preserve Lebanon's unity and security," the Sunni leader added.

The grand mufti urged Lebanon's leaders to adopt "constitutional and democratic means, notably dialogue, to withdraw the country from the crisis it is plunging into and reach a comprehensive national unity."

The clerics then met with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Echoing Qabbani, Qabalan urged all parties against holding demonstrations to achieve their goals, saying: "Lebanon is in dire need of unity not partition, of fraternity not hostility."

Calling on both Muslims and Christians to refrain from inflaming "tension and inflammatory speeches," the Higher Shiite Council vice president urged the Lebanese to preserve Beirut, "the capital of capitals."

"We should protect Beirut ... not by demonstrations and riots but through democracy and wise politics," Qabalan said. "Lebanon should remain the center of attraction in the Arab world and the non-Arab world."

Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan, a rival of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, lashed out at the summit Tuesday, which he described as a "materialistic and ill-intentioned meeting lacking any spirituality."

"The title is a spiritual summit between Islamic religions for the sake of national unity, while the truth is that the summit is far from spirituality because participants are speaking on behalf of their political leaders," Arslan said: "They are not independent; therefore their decision is not ... Before they meet let them settle problems inside their sects."