Barrack calls reporters' behavior in Baabda 'animalistic', sparking outrage in Lebanon
At the start of a news conference at the Baabda Palace on Tuesday, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack warned raucous journalists to be quiet, telling them to “act civilized, act kind, act tolerant.”
He threatened to end the conference early otherwise.
“The moment that this starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic, we’re gone,” said Barrack. He then asked: “Do you think this is economically beneficial for (U.S. envoy) Morgan (Ortagus) and I to be here putting up with this insanity?”
None of the journalists present responded to his comments but the Lebanese Press Editors Syndicate issued a statement slamming the “inappropriate treatment” that the Lebanese journalists were subjected to and called on Barrack and the U.S. State Department to offer a “public apology.” It added that if no apology were made, it could escalate by calling for boycotting Barrack’s visits and meeting.
The Lebanese Presidency and Information Minister Paul Morcos also issued statements voicing solidarity with the journalists.
The Presidency said it “regrets” the comments made by “one of our guests” and greeted journalists who cover news at the palace, thanking them for their “hard work.”
Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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