The seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki witnessed Friday evening a meeting between top Maronite leaders, amid the absence of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea for “security reasons.” “Bishop Samir Mazloum presided over a meeting attended by Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel, head of Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun and Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh,” state-run National News Agency reported.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi joined the meeting shortly after the end of a mass he had presided over in Jbeil. After media reports initially said that Geagea was present at the meeting, LBCI TV said the LF leader did not attend for “security reasons.”MTV said the meeting was planned in advance and that Bkirki witnessed “strict security measures.”  [Link]