TRIPOLI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives or parliament on Monday condemned members of Lebanon's Amal Movement for desecrating the Libyan national flag, demanding the Lebanese government and Arab League clarify their positions.

"The House of Representatives condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the attack on the Libyan flag, the symbol of Libya's independence and sovereignty, by members of Amal movements in the Lebanese capital Beirut," the parliament said in a statement later Monday.

On the same day, Libyan foreign ministry voiced a decision to boycott the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Lebanon this weekend over the flag incident.

"We have been forced to boycott this summit and refuse to participate in its work" because Lebanon was unable to guarantee "the appropriate climate" for it, the ministry said in a statement.

Social media published the footage of some angry Lebanese young people, believed to be members of the Amal Movement, tearing and stepping on the Libyan flag before burning it.

The Shiite Amal Movement blamed Libya for the disappearance of its founder, Musa al-Sadr, during his visit to Libya in 1978.

Lebanon's Amal Movement announced earlier this month that it would prevent the Libyan delegation from entering Lebanon to attend the Arab economic summit with a plan to launch nationwide protests and close the airport.

In a letter to Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala, Lebanese Caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil expressed earlier on Monday his regret on Libya's refusal to participate in the Beirut summit, saying the actions against the Libyan delegation do not reflect his position or the position of his country. Enditem

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