DAMASCUS- Patriarch Gregorios III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch, All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem for the Catholic Church dismissed media reports on arming the Christians particularly in Damascus as "untrue".
"No officials did call us about arming the Christians and we didn't call any of them, neither did we ask for arming any of the Christian communities whether inside or outside Damascus," Patriarch Laham clarified in a statement which SANA got a copy of.
He considered that "any attempt at arming by whatever party implies the danger of sectarian sedition and exposes the neighborhoods with a Christian majority to the risk of unknown transgressions."
The Patriarch asked the Christians to refuse any offers for arming, calling upon them to play a reconciliatory role as to help in extending bridges among Syria's sons, "which would be the lovelies message they send to their homeland and fellow citizens from all sects."