Lebanese PM promises open border with Syria

BEIRUT - Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Miqati vowed Friday that the Lebanese-Syrian border would not be closed, Assafir newspaper reported.

The remarks came after several ministers recently said that Lebanon should stop receiving refugees fleeing the turmoil in Syria.

"The government will not close the border to the displaced escaping death to Lebanon. But we are taking all the security measures to control the border," Miqati said.

While Miqati admitted that Lebanon could no longer face the influx of refugees, he said that the "government is formulating a plan to resolve the issue and discuss it during an extraordinary cabinet session after the New Year".

He added that he had received promises from the international community for financial assistance in early January to meet the needs of the refugees.

"Our capabilities in resolving the problems of the majority of the displaced are limited, that's why we resorted to the United Nations, donor countries and friendly states to help us overcome these problems," he said.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said Thursday that the Syrians who were fleeing the conflict in their country should not consider entering Lebanon since its capacity to accept refugees was limited, according to Voice of Lebanon radio.