MPs representing the northern Akkar Province on Friday accused authorities of carrying out a wave of biased arrests in the region in connection with clashes that erupted last May.

The MPs, in a statement distributed by the state-run National News Agency, called for "halting chase operations and the issuing of arrest warrants" in connection with the May 10 clashes between the Syrian Social National Party (SSNP) and Mustaqbal Movement partisans.

Such chase operations and arrest warrants "target one side only and ignore the side that caused" an alleged massacre in Halba, according to the statement.

They said the ongoing interrogations target "innocent citizens and people with good reputation."

"If an investigation is to be launched, then let it start with the events of May 7 in Beirut because the Halba events were carried out by sides suspected of carrying out an aggression on peaceful citizens," the statement said.

It warned against "changing victims into criminals and criminals into victims."