Tunisian Presidential Staff Suffer Symptoms after Opening Suspect Letter

Presidential candidate Kais Saied speaks as he attends a news conference after the announcement of the results in the first round of Tunisia's presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
Presidential candidate Kais Saied speaks as he attends a news conference after the announcement of the results in the first round of Tunisia's presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
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Tunisian Presidential Staff Suffer Symptoms after Opening Suspect Letter

Presidential candidate Kais Saied speaks as he attends a news conference after the announcement of the results in the first round of Tunisia's presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
Presidential candidate Kais Saied speaks as he attends a news conference after the announcement of the results in the first round of Tunisia's presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

The office manager for Tunisian President Kais Saied suffered a headache and short-term vision loss after opening a suspect envelope on Monday, the presidency said on Thursday.

The office manager was transferred to a military hospital.

Another presidential employee also suffered a headache after the envelope was opened, it said in a statement.

Reports emerged on social media on Wednesday saying Saied had been sent a letter that may have contained poison.

The statement said Saied was in good health and that the presidency had not commented earlier in order to prevent public alarm.



Salam: Armed Parades Witnessed in Beirut are Unacceptable

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. (Reuters)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. (Reuters)
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Salam: Armed Parades Witnessed in Beirut are Unacceptable

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. (Reuters)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. (Reuters)

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Saturday that the armed display witnessed in the streets of Beirut in the past few hours are “completely unacceptable under any circumstances or justification”.

In a statement on X, the Prime Minister added that he had called for the immediate intervention of the Ministers of Justice and Interior to identify, apprehend, and refer the perpetrators for justice.

A group of armed men appeared on a street in the capital, Beirut, during Ashura commemorations.

On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned against “internal enemies who exploit sectarian tensions to serve their interests in coordination with external forces”.

The President denied recent reports claiming that armed groups had illegally infiltrated into Lebanon, or that preparations were underway for cross-border incursions along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

The President reiterated the need for solidarity among the Lebanese in order to confront any challenges and boost stability and prosperity.