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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

STL Acquits Khayat, al-Jadeed of All Charges

2016-03-10

[An Nahar] The Appeals Panel of the Special Tribunal for Leb on Tuesday acquitted al-Jadeed television and its vice chairwoman Karma al-Khayat of all charges of contempt. The panel issued its judgment with "two separate opinions and one partially dissenting opinion," the STL said in a statement. Presided over by STL President Judge Ivana Hrdlièková and consisting of Judge Janet Nosworthy and Judge Walid Akoum, the Appeals Panel reversed Khayat's conviction under Count 2 and set aside a fine of 10,000 Euros imposed on her by the Contempt Judge. The panel also affirmed Khayat’s acquittal under Count 1 and al-Jadeed’s acquittal under both counts. This case concerned al-Jadeed's August 2012 broadcast of five episodes regarding purported confidential tribunal witnesses and their online availability "in violation of an order issued by the Pre-trial Judge on August 10, 2012." The accused, al-Jadeed and Khayat -- at the time al-Jadeed's Deputy Head of News and Political Programs -- were each charged with two counts of contempt of court for "knowingly and willfully interfering with the administration of justice by: 1. Broadcasting and/or publishing information on purported confidential witnesses in the Ayyash et al. case, thereby undermining public confidence in the Tribunal’s ability to protect the confidentiality of information about, or provided by, witnesses or potential witnesses (Count 1); 2. Failing to remove from Al Jadeed TV’s website and YouTube channel information on purported confidential witnesses in the Ayyash et al. case, thereby violating the 10 August 2012 Order (Count 2)." On September 18, Contempt Judge Nicola Lettieri issued a judgment acquitting al-Jadeed on both counts while acquitting Khayat on Count 1 and finding her guilty on Count 2. Consequently, on September 28, the Contempt Judge sentenced Khayat to a fine of 10,000 Euros. In the proceedings before the Appeals Panel, the Amicus Curiae Prosecutor appealed al-Jadeed’s acquittal on both counts and Khayat’s acquittal on Count 1. In addition, the Defense appealed Khayat’s conviction on Count 2. The STL has indicted five Hizbullah ...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory... members for involvement in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 liquidation. Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb... has dismissed the court as a U.S.-Israeli scheme against his group and vowed that the accused will never be found.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Witnesses Testify in Hariri Murder Trial

2014-01-23

[An Nahar] The Special Tribunal for Leb began for the first time on Wednesday to hear the testimonies of witnesses in the trial of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's February 2005 liquidation. The testimonies came after the STL prosecution, the lawyers for victims and defense attorneys of two suspects made their opening statements since the trial was launched last Thursday. The four Hizbullah suspects -- Mustafa Badreddine, Hassan Oneissi, Salim Ayyash and Assad Sabra - have been indicted in Hariri's murder in what prosecutors say was a suicide truck bombing that killed him and 21 others on the Beirut seafront. The suspects are being tried in absentia because they haven't been locked away Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up! . The fifth to be indicted was Hassan Habib Merhi, who was indicted later than the other four suspects and is not officially a suspect in the trial that started Thursday but several accusations have been made against him. His lawyers are attending the trial in observer status. Wednesday's hearing started with the prosecution listing the names and brief histories of the victims. Then Abdul Qader Darwish, the brother of Mohammed Darwish, one of the victims of the attack, briefed the court on the emotional suffering of his family after the kaboom. Mohammed Darwish was part of the Hariri convoy. The witness said his family and himself had also suffered from medical conditions due to their grief. Darwish had to eventually identify his brother's body at a hospital, he said, adding the victim "was totally maimed and ripped apart." The second witness Mamdouh Mohammed Tarraf is the brother of victim Ziad Tarraf, who had worked for Hariri as a personal bodyguard since 1987. Tarraf said he identified his brother from the shoes he was wearing. His body was burned but his feet were left intact. A third witness, Robyn Fraser, who worked for the STL Office of the Prosecution between August 2009 and August 2011. Senior Trial counsel, Alexander Milne of the office of the Prosecution, focused on various surveillance camera footage taken near the area where Hariri was assassinated. He showed footage taken from the Suleiman Franjieh tunnel leading towards the Phoenicia and Monroe Hotels. This footage focused on a white lorry, suspected of being the Mitsubishi vehicle that was carrying the explosives used in the liquidation. The testimony revealed that the lorry had arrived at the scene about an hour before the attack where it headed off on a road near the Monroe Hotel before once again being captured on the same camera, located at the exit of the tunnel, an hour later and presumably headed to the location where the attack was to take place. The Prosecution then showed footage taken from a camera on the corner of the Phoenicia Hotel that also captured an image of the lorry. It was stated during the testimony that the time stamp on the footage of the cameras can be placed manually, thus leading to findings that the time on the various footage was not accurate in line with the liquidation. The liquidation took place at 12:55 pm on February 14, 2005. The camera at the exit of the Suleiman Franjieh tunnel was found to be two minutes slower than actual time and the camera at the Phoenicia Hotel was found to be 48 minutes faster. The Prosecution will focus on Thursday on footage taken by a surveillance camera at the HSBC Bank near the scene of the crime.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Hizbullah Delegation Meets Qabbani: Ties with Mufti Constantly Evolving

2014-01-07

[An Nahar] Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani ... Grand Mufti of Lebanon and the most prominent Sunni Muslim cleric in the country. An assassination attempt against Qabbani was foiled by Leb internal security forces in 2009 as part of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beirut. In an interview broadcast in 2012, Qabbani stated that Jews were behind secularism, because they opposed the authority of the church, against Christianity. He also suggested that the attacks of September 11, 2001 were orchestrated by Jews in order to justify the persecution of Muslims worldwide. Qabbani is against the legalization of civil marriage in Lebanon. He has issued a fatwa declaring any Muslim politician who approves civil marriage legislation an apostate. Surprisingly, he is not considered very much of a nut by Moslem standards. held talks on Monday with a delegation from Hizbullah that condemned the recent assault against the holy man. Sheikh Abdul Majid Ammar of Hizbullah said after the talks: "Ties with the Mufti are constantly evolving." "Our visit was aimed at checking on the well-being of the Mufti in light of assault and we relayed to him the regards of Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb... ," he continued. "The assault against the holy man does not reflect the morals and values of the sect he represents," he added, while slamming political rhetoric "that is aimed at creating strife." Asked by news hounds if the incitement against Qabbani stems from his ties with Hizbullah, Ammar replied: "Our relations with the Mufti are constantly evolving despite all attempts to tarnish them." The ties will remain based on common values "and therefore all attempts to harm this relationship will fail", he remarked. Qabbani on December 29 attended the funeral of Mohammed Chaar, a youth killed during the December 27 Starco blast in downtown Beirut. Mourners at the funeral were angered by his arrival and began chanting slogans against him, prompting members of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau's Strike Force to escort him out of the al-Khasheqji Mosque where the funeral was being held. Qabbani considered that the protesters were seeking to "kill him" upon his arrival at the premises. The Mufti's ties with al-Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... deteriorated last year when he met with a delegation from Hizbullah the same day the Special Tribunal for Leb indicted four party members in former Premier Rafik Hariri's February 2005 liquidation. Relations between the two sides were also shaken when the Mufti met with Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali, whom al-Mustaqbal and the March 14 opposition alliance have on several occasions said should be expelled.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Hariri Says al-Hasan Killers Will be Brought to Justice Sooner or Later

2013-10-19

[An Nahar] Former Premier Saad Hariri Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too. on Friday compared "the wound" caused by the 2012 liquidation of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan to the wound caused by the liquidation of his father, ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. "We have always called for justice and for the Special Tribunal for Leb regarding the liquidation of Premier Rafik Hariri, and now we have the same demands regarding the liquidation of Brigadier General al-Hasan," the slain commander of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau. "We have full confidence in the Tribunal, and no one should think that those who assassinated him will get away with it no matter what," Hariri stressed during a prerecorded interview on Future TV which commemorated the first anniversary of al-Hasan's liquidation. "For me, the liquidation of Wissam trespassed many red lines, and he was targeted because of his belief in the path of Rafik Hariri and because of his success and great achievements at the head of the Intelligence Bureau, whether in uncovering the Mamlouk-Samaha network or in pursuing and arresting several Israeli and terrorist networks," the ex-PM noted. He added: "We know who their friends are, and who killed him, and they will be punished sooner or later although they feel very strong today." Hariri pointed out that the slain officer faced "the most heinous political and media campaigns" prior to his liquidation, noting that the Intelligence Bureau "is still being targeted, but it will go on and continue the institutional work he established in it." "They fought him because he was working to build the state," said Hariri. The former premier said at the end of the interview that he would soon return to Leb. He said that the liquidation of al-Hasan "showed once again that the criminals are targeting symbols in Leb" and therefore his return was postponed. But he added: "Many don't want me to return, but I will, and I hope that Leb will again be as it was, and as Rafik Hariri, Wissam al-Hasan, Pierre Amin Gemayel and all the deaders of the Cedar Revolution wanted it to be."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

STL Asks Lebanese Authorities to Publish Merhi's Posters in the Media

2013-10-12

[An Nahar] Representatives of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Leb delivered Friday posters of the new accused Hassan Habib Merhi to the Lebanese authorities "for the purpose of public advertisement," the court said in a statement. "According to the Tribunal's rules, the Lebanese authorities are requested to advertise the poster in the media to notify the public and to call on the accused to surrender to the Tribunal," the STL added. "The information given to the Lebanese authorities includes the biographical details of Mr. Merhi along with two identifying photographs," it said. On Thursday, the STL said Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen confirmed an indictment against Merhi, who is accused of being involved in the February 14, 2005 Beirut attack that killed former Premier Rafik Hariri and 22 others. The confirmed indictment and an arrest warrant were transmitted confidentially to the Lebanese authorities on August 6 so that they could search for, arrest and transfer the accused to STL custody, announced the tribunal in a statement on Thursday. The Lebanese authorities were given 30 calendar days to carry out this obligation and report back on their efforts by September 5, 2013. On September 6, the Lebanese Prosecutor General submitted his confidential report to Tribunal President, Judge Sir David Baragwanath, stating that so far the accused has not been found. Subsequently, the STL President requested additional measures be taken by the Lebanese authorities.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

STL Indicts Fifth 'Hizbullah Supporter' in Hariri Assassination

2013-10-11

[An Nahar] Special Tribunal for Leb Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen confirmed on Thursday an indictment against Hassan Habib Merhi who is accused of being involved in the February 14, 2005 Beirut attack that killed former Premier Rafik Hariri and 22 others. The confirmed indictment and an arrest warrant were transmitted confidentially to the Lebanese authorities on August 6 so that they could search for, arrest and transfer the accused to STL custody, announced the tribunal in a statement on Thursday. The Lebanese authorities were given 30 calendar days to carry out this obligation and report back on their efforts by September 5, 2013. On September 6, the Lebanese Prosecutor General submitted his confidential report to Tribunal President, Judge Sir David Baragwanath, stating that so far the accused has not been found. Subsequently, the STL President requested additional measures be taken by the Lebanese authorities. All of these steps have been confidential until now to allow the Lebanese authorities the best opportunity to apprehend the accused, continued the STL statement. Merhi, is charged with a number of crimes including the crime of conspiracy aimed at committing a terrorist act. He is alleged to have acted in a conspiracy with Hizbullah members Mustafa Amin Badreddine, Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra in relation to the attack on February 14, 2005, all of whom have already been indicted. The accused Merhi is alleged to have coordinated the preparation of the purported claim of responsibility as part of the preparations for and in furtherance of, the attack, said the STL statement. The STL said Merhi is "a supporter of Hizbullah" who was born on December 12, 1965 in Beirut. "He is the son of Habib Merhi and Latifa Abbas," it added, revealing that he has resided in Burj al-Barajneh and that "he is a citizen of Leb" whose "Lebanese civil registration is 1126/Zqaq-EI-Blat." "Merhi, together with Badreddine, coordinated the preparation of the false claim of responsibility, and, at times, was in contact with Ayyash in relation to the preparations for the attack. Merhi, prior to the attack, coordinated the activities of Oneissi and Sabra in order to identify a suitable individual, later identified as Ahmad Abu Adass, who would be used to make a video-taped false claim of responsibility for the attack," the court announced in its indictment. "Immediately following the attack, Merhi, coordinated the activities of Oneissi and Sabra, who participated in (i) disseminating statements falsely attributing responsibility for the attack; (ii) ensuring the delivery of the video, with a letter attached, containing the false claim of responsibility to Al-Jazeera ... an Arab news network headquartered in Qatar, notorious for carrying al-Qaeda press releases. The name means the Peninsula, as in the Arabian Peninsula. In recent years it has settled in to become slightly less biased than MSNBC, in about the same category as BBC or CBS... ; and (iii) ensuring the video would be broadcast," it added. Under the current circumstances in Leb, Baragwanath has deemed the efforts by the Lebanese authorities to be sufficient to justify alternative means to search for the accused. As a result, he has determined to initiate a 30-day public advertisement phase with the help of the Lebanese authorities to locate the accused as well as to inform him of the charges against him and of his rights, which are guaranteed under international law.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Mustaqbal: Suspects in Hariri Assassination Should be Arrested in Dahieh

2013-09-25

[An Nahar] The Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... parliamentary bloc hailed on Tuesday the deployment of the state's security forces in Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahieh, hoping that the plan will be replicated throughout Leb. It said after its weekly meeting: "The plan should be implemented in full and the accused in the liquidation of former Premier Rafik Hariri should be tossed in the calaboose You have the right to remain silent... in Dahieh." "The security forces in Dahieh have the sole right to impose the law in the area," it declared. Moreover, it noted that the deployment of the security forces in the Hizbullah stronghold of Dahieh is similar to the army's deployment in the South in 2006, which demonstrates that there can be no substitute to the authority of the state and its institutions. All other experiences that violate the authority of the state have been failures, said the bloc. "The residents of Dahieh who rejected the phenomenon of autonomous security have instead demonstrated their commitment to the state and its security forces," continued the Mustaqbal bloc. Moreover, it held the government responsible for the success of the Dahieh plan since it is responsible for the actions of the security forces. "The government should not be lenient with any violations as the plan is the right measure that will help restore the people's trust in the state's security institutions," it added. The Dahieh plan should be replicated throughout Leb in order for the state to reassure the people that it is keen on their safety, stressed the bloc. Four Hizbullah members were accused by the Special Tribunal for Leb of being involved in the 2005 liquidation of former Premier Hariri. Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb... had labeled the STL an American-Israeli product bent on destroying the party, vowing that it will never cooperate with it and saying that the suspects will never be found. The four accused remain on the lam despite the Lebanese authorities' efforts to apprehend them. Around 1,000 army troops and security forces deployed Monday in Dahieh where Hizbullah normally keeps a tight grip on security. The security points were established after boom-mobileings in the area killed 27 people on August 15 and maimed more than 50 on July 9. Following the bombings, Hizbullah turned the southern suburbs into a fortress with guards in civilian clothes policing the streets, stopping and searching cars, and asking motorists for their identity cards.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Jumblat Slams Army Critics: Spread of Illegitimate Arms Can Only Be Resolved with Dialogue

2013-06-30

[An Nahar] Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Wally Jumblat ... Druze politician, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, who's been on every side in Leb at least four times. He'll sell you his friends for a dollar, but family comes higher because of shipping and handling... lamented on Saturday the rise of extremism in Leb at the expense of moderation, stressing the need to combat it through backing the state and the army. He said in a statement: "The recent developments demonstrate that the spread of arms cannot be tackled through more arms ... but through the return to dialogue." "The recent chaos is tantamount to a crime against the Lebanese army and attempts to build the state," he added. "It is a blow to the deaders who died while performing their national duties to enforce stability and security," he continued. Jumblat stressed: "We reject any unjustified attempt to tarnish the army's image." "It is sad and scary to see the posters of former Premier Saad Hariri Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too. , who is a symbol of moderation, being torn down in the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... and in late PM Rashid Karami's square, who in turn was also a symbol of Lebanese national moderation," he stated. "It is sad and scary to see the moderation advocated by slain Premier Rafik Hariri fail as a result of ongoing policies of incitement and the shortcomings of politicians," he added. "It is unfortunate that the confusion within a major political camp has led to this extent of extremism," he noted in an indirect reference to the Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... Movement. "The Lebanese are better off adhering to moderation instead of falling victim to the traps of sectarian extremism ... that can be thwarted through supporting the state and its institutions starting with the army and security forces," Jumblat added.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syria Issues Arrest Warrants against Leb Pols

2012-12-12

[An Nahar] Syria issued on Tuesday arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Saad Hariri Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's liquidation. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too. , Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... MP Oqab Saqr, and Syrian opposition member Louay al-Meqdad. MTV said the arrest warrants were issued on charges of "arming and financing terrorist groups in Syria." According to information obtained by the TV network, the Syrian judiciary sent the warrants to the Damascus ...The capital of Iran's Syrian satrapy... -based criminal investigations office of the Arab Interior Ministers Council. The office in turn emailed the warrants to the Interpol office of Leb's Internal Security Forces which submitted them to Interior Minister Marwan Charbel. For his part, the minister informed State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr of the content of the warrants, MTV added. The development came a day after Judge Saqr requested the questioning of Syrian security chief Ali Mamlouk and a colonel identified only as Adnan as suspects in the case of former Minister Michel Samaha. He also summoned Buthaina Shaaban, Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Terror of Aleppo ...For centuries, Aleppo was Greater Syria's largest city and the Ottoman Empire's third, after Constantinople and Cairo. Although relatively close to Damascus in distance, Aleppans regard Damascenes as country cousins... ... 's media adviser, to be questioned as a witness in the case. Samaha was tossed in the slammer Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up! in August on charges of forming a criminal gang aimed at carrying out attacks in Leb at Syria's behest. Mamlouk and Syrian colonel Adnan have been also charged in the affair. OTV and al-Akhbar newspaper recently revealed that MP Saqr had been carrying out arms deals with Syrian opposition members, with the television station airing leaked recordings of conversations between the politician and Meqdad. MP Saqr last week gave a presser, accusing OTV and al-Akhbar of tampering with the audiotapes and saying that he will file a lawsuit against them. In October 2010, Syria ordered the arrest of 33 people over alleged false testimonies given in the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Leb, which is probing the liquidation of Lebanese former Premier Rafik Hariri. The Lebanese defendants include Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi, MP Marwan Hamadeh, former General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza and former Justice Minister Charles Rizk, as well as politicians, journalists and other Lebanese, Arab and foreign officials.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Asir: We Suspended Decision to Form Armed Brigade Pending Consultations

2012-11-18

[An Nahar] Salafist holy man Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir announced on Saturday his intention to form a “resistance brigade” in the southern city of Sidon. He said during a presser: “The decision to form the brigade has been suspended pending consultations with various powers.” He explained that the decision stemmed from the frequent Israeli assaults against the southern city and the need for self-defense. Discussions on the mechanism needed to form the brigade will be held with the concerned forces, he revealed. A clash broke out on Sunday between al-Asir and Hizbullah supporters. Two of Asir's companions and an Egyptian national died in the clash that was a product of sectarian tensions in Sidon. Asir added: “No one can break our will and we will not back down from our revolt of dignity no matter how many of us they kill.” “The Israeli assault on Gazoo has prompted us to take the decision to form the brigade and the current so-called resistance has not been defending Leb,” he said in reference to Hizbullah. “Our resistance will be aimed against Israel, not like other resistance groups that have turned their weapons towards the internal scene,” he stated. He also attributed the failure to devise a defense strategy for Leb as a reason to form the “resistance brigade.” Addressing Sunday's clash, Asir declared: “We demand justice for the dead and for the state to demonstrate that it can achieve justice.” He also announced that an open-ended sit-in will be held at Sidon's Bilal bin Rabbah mosque until this issue is resolved. “We have a blood score to settle with Hizbullah that can only be settled with blood,” he warned. Addressing Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb... , he said: “I must admit to you that you have succeeded in forcing the state to fulfill your agenda, meaning Iran's.” “You have committed murders with impunity in Leb and Syria for the sake of your agenda,” he noted. “You have spread corruption starting with the illegal activity at ports and with the medications scandal,” Asir continued. “I have repeatedly said that we have no problems with the Shiite sect, but we take issue with Hizbullah and its Iranian agenda,” stressed the imam of the Bilal bin Rabbah mosque. Turning to the March 14 camp, he said: “You have contradicted your principles.” “We do not count on those who headed to Doha and struck deals at the expense of the blood of slain former Premier Rafik Hariri,” he added. “You must review your policies with your supporters and remain true to their aspirations,” he stated.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Geagea Accuses Security Officials of Covering Up Iran-Syria-Hizbullah 'Plot'

2012-10-26

Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... leader Samir Geagea ... Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005 ... lashed out on Thursday at Lebanese security agencies, accusing some officials of carrying out an Iranian-Syrian plot undertaken by Hizbullah inside the country. "If the case of (former information) Minister Michel Samaha, which led to the liquidation of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan last week fell in the wrong hands, they might have covered the matter up and Leb would have witnessed greater havoc," Geagea said in comments published in the Saudi daily al-Watan. Under Hasan, the ISF played a central role in the August arrest of Samaha, who has close links to Damascus ...The capital of Iran's Syrian satrapy... . He was charged with planning attacks to spark sectarian strife in Leb. The agency was also deeply involved in seeking the arrest of those responsible for a host of attacks and liquidations between 2005 and 2008, starting with the former Premier Rafik Hariri's liquidation, for which Hasan blamed Damascus. In October 2010, the Syrian courts issued arrest warrants against 33 Lebanese figures, including Hasan, for perjury in the case of the Hariri liquidation. The LF leader refused to name the people or sides that these officials are affiliated with, but he indicated that they are "security officials" in Lebanese security agencies. Geagea said that when Hasan unveiled Samaha's plot, he halted an attempt by Syria to make Leb a "mailbox" to regional and international countries. "The regime of (Syrian president Bashar) Assad and Iran are responsible for the liquidation of Hasan, while Hizbullah carried out the crime," he told the daily.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Miqati Refers Hasan Assassination to Judicial Council

2012-10-24

[An Nahar] Prime Minister Najib Miqati signed on Tuesday the decree to refer the case of the liquidation of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Wissam al-Hasan's to the judicial council. The decree has also been referred to President Michel Suleiman ...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too... Miqati informed Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi of his step, stressing the need to name the judicial investigator who will handle the case. Hasan was killed in a massive car boom in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district on Friday. He played a major role in the investigation in the liquidation of former Premier Rafik Hariri in 2005. He also played a great role in uncovering terrorist and Israeli espionage networks in Leb, as well as the arrest of former minister Michel Samaha. The former minister, a close ally of Syria, was tossed in the slammer Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! in August on charges of forming a criminal gang aimed at carrying out attacks in Leb at Syria's behest. The March 14-led opposition in Leb and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Wally Jumblat ... Druze politician, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, who's been on every side in Leb at least four times. He'll sell you his friends for a dollar, but family comes higher because of shipping and handling... accused the Syrian regime of being behind Hasan and Hariri's murders.

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