BEIRUT, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) — Lebanese President Michel Aoun assured on Friday that he will not allow the security situation to get out of control, said a presidency statement. “It is very important to control the security situation in order to maintain stability and civil peace, and protect the image of the state and its institutions,” the president said during a meeting for the Higher Defense Council. Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab stressed during the meeting the need to intensify coordinated efforts among security and military agencies to preserve stability and take precautionary measures to avoid any negative developments. The meeting comes ahead of the parliament’s meeting next week to discuss the cabinet’s ministerial statement and vote on it at a time when protesters are threatening to cut off the roads leading to the parliament. Lebanon has recently witnessed several conflicts between riot police, security forces and protesters. Protesters, who have been in the streets since Oct. 17 last year, are demanding a government of specialists who are totally independent from political parties, to fight corruption, prosecute corrupt people, and hold early parliamentary elections. Supported by the parliamentary majority forces, Diab formed a government that includes 19 ministers of specialists and academics on Jan. 21.