Zeina Akar, the former foreign affairs minister, is seen after her security detail allegedly caused property damage to the ministry's Beirut headquarters. (Credit: Al-Markaziia)
BEIRUT — A dispute at the Foreign Ministry on Monday involving Zeina Akar, who served as foreign affairs minister, defense minister and deputy premier in the outgoing cabinet, caused property damage to the ministry’s headquarters in Beirut’s Achrafieh area.
Here’s what we know:
• News reports surfaced on Monday afternoon stating that a security guard for Akar had forced open doors and put at least one hole in an office wall after the ministry’s secretary-general, Hani Chmaytelli, had refused to allow her to access the ministry’s mail. Chmaytelli said Akar should no longer handle the mail following the government formation on Friday.
• A spokesperson for Akar did not dispute the property damage or that Akar was no longer entitled to review the ministry’s mail. However, the spokesperson alleged that the dispute had started after Chmaytelli had “blocked” Akar from carrying out a goodbye and thank-you tour of the ministry.
• Chmaytelli could not be reached for immediate comment.
• A handover ceremony from Akar to incoming Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib is set to take place on Tuesday.