The Lebanese President’s Information Office replied Monday on the recently circulated rumors regarding the health of President Michel Aoun, asserting that security and judicial apparatuses will prosecute the perpetrators.
"Some people spread cheap rumors on social media that deal with the health of His Excellency President Michel Aoun, the latest of which are the fabricated accounts that were circulated in the past two days, in order to cause deliberate confusion in the country and spread concern in the hearts of citizens," the Presidency said.
The Information Office categorically denied these circulated news, which it described as “unfounded.”
It said their broadcasts are prohibited by the laws and regulations in force.
“Therefore, the security and judicial apparatuses will prosecute the perpetrators and their promoters and take appropriate measures against them," the statement said.
In the past few days, media reports circulated on social media that Aoun was seriously ill.
Some of those media reports even attributed a statement to the National News Agency regarding the death of Aoun.
"After midnight yesterday, unidentified persons circulated on the WhatsApp application, a rumor about the passing of the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, which included a false and unfounded scenario attributed to" the National News Agency',” NNA said.
"The agency categorically denies that it posted such news, and asserts that it has absolutely nothing to do with the fabricated accounts attributed to it, the purpose of which is to cause confusion," it explained in a statement.
In this regard, MP Ibrahim Kanaan of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement published a video on his Twitter accout recording of himself and Aoun taking a walk in the Presidential Palace’s garden on Monday.
“My meeting today in Baabda with the President to discuss the latest economic, financial and social development,” the MP wrote.
Aoun, 85, is the oldest president in the Arab world.
