BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt denounced Monday new regulations requiring Syrians traveling to Lebanon to obtain visas, saying the move was understudied and premature.

Though Jumblatt acknowledged the adverse effects the Syrian crisis was having on Lebanon, “complicating measures against refugees and regular citizens on border crossings without proper study” is unwarranted.

The comments came during his weekly column in al-Anbaa newspaper.

The controversial measure went into effect Monday requiring Syrians to obtain one of six visa types – tourist, business, student, transit, short stay or medical.

Its proponents say the measure seeks to organize the presence of Syrians in Lebanon by preventing the entry of new ones.

The PSP leader stressed on the need to distinguish between Syrians who have fled Syria due to deplorable conditions imposed on them by the war, and those who have come to Lebanon for “other purposes.”

“The overwhelming majority have fled from Syria fearing the war over there and they are innocent and hold no blame for what happened and what is happening every day,” he said.

In that regard, Jumblatt called on Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk and General Security Chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim to approach the “sensitive and difficult case” in a manner that “reconciles between higher Lebanese national interests and preserving the dignity of Syrian refugees.”