Energy Minister Gebran Bassil on Friday scoffed at Labor Minister Boutros Harb’s Thursday statement that he would not interfere in the upcoming May 30 municipal elections in the northern city of Batroun, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

“I am not surprised with such a stance… We did not say that [Harb] or others must not interfere in the city’s elections,” he added.

Bassil and Harb, political rivals, have engaged in a war of words in the past two days over the Batroun municipal elections.

On Thursday, Harb said Bassil’s  remarks to An-Nahar newspaper that Batroun will likely witness an electoral showdown “reflect a state of fear and  panic.” Harb also said he will not interfere in the Batroun elections.

“It is the right of Batroun’s voters to reject [electoral interference],” Bassil said, but added that “night infiltration for well-known interference and political visits [to Batroun] by many officials from outside Batroun should not be allowed.”

-NOW Lebanon