TRIPOLI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan government said on Monday that it would boycott the upcoming Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, in response to the recent desecrating protests in the host country.
"The Libyan government is forced to boycott the summit and refrain from participating in its work after it was revealed that the host country did not provide the appropriate climate in accordance with the obligations, customs and traditions of such summits," the Libyan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Libyan flag was "removed and shredded before everyone, a violation of the sacred symbol of a sovereign state," the Libyan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Government of National Accord called upon the Lebanese government to urgently clarify its position in this regard, and the secretary general of the Arab League to clarify the league's position, the statement said.
Social media published footage of angry Lebanese young people, believed to be members of the Lebanese Amal Movement, desecrating the Libyan national flag.
The Shiite Amal Movement accuses Libya's late former leader Muammar Gaddafi of being responsible for the disappearance of the Shiite leader Musa al-Sadr during his visit to Libya in 1978.
Gaddafi had long denied involvement in al-Sadr's disappearance.
Leaders of Amal Movement demanded to prevent Libya from taking part in the summit until revealing the truth of al-Sadr's disappearance.
