Miqati: Samaha Arrested for Security Reasons, Not over STL
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Thursday that former minister and MP Michel Samaha’s arrest was based on a judicial request.
He said: “The investigations with Samaha are linked to security issues, not the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”
He did not elaborate on this point.
The premier will later receive a detailed report on the investigation, his visitors revealed.
The Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch arrested former MP and cabinet minister Michel Samaha on Thursday morning "for security reasons," his wife and the acting general prosecutor said.
Samaha was arrested following raids on his houses in Beirut’s Ashrafiyeh district and the North Metn town of Jwar al-Khensahara.
On the government’s adoption of proportional representation for the parliamentary electoral law, Miqati said: “Proportionality does not eliminate any side, but it allows them all to take part in rule.”
“Parliament will have the final say on the division of electoral districts,” he added.
“The parliamentary elections will be held on time,” he stressed.
The government’s decision on Tuesday sparked the criticism of various March 14 officials and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.
The March 14 camp said that the new electoral law favors its rival March 8 camp.
Commenting on the kidnapping of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims, Miqati was quoted as saying by his visitors that the case has been politicized in order to launch a campaign against the government.
“It seems that the captives are being used for political purposes,” he noted.
09 August 2012, 12:48
67
Mikati: you will be one of the next traiotrs to Lebanon to be jailed soon.
as for this charade of electoral vote, you know what you can do with it...
expat vote is not for you to play with to thwart it and destroy it for your master hizbushaitan pleasure.
80% of expat are Christian voters, and they have the right to vote properly and not like this.
proportionality is supposed to solve representation of minorities, and not favor hizbushaitan and their followers just to stay in power.
09 August 2012, 20:27
01
i think it is about time that we "Lebanese" stopped talking in terms of our religion. you are either Lebanese or you are not. it is people like you (who keep using religion as a mask for their national identity) that has brought us all to the brink. enough with this BS. you want to be a christian then go live in the Vatican, you want to be Suni then go live in Saudi, you want to be Shiaa then go live in Iran. if you are Lebanese, then start thinking about how we are going to get out of this mess. it is ludicrous and insulting to our intelligence to continue dividing our home land according to confessional lines.. we need REAL political parties.. political parties with proper national platforms rather than religious/clan selfish schemes . wake up people
09 August 2012, 13:19
63
Expat vote 80% Christian in your dreams...and you will wake to the reality very soon!!!
09 August 2012, 16:38
10
I don't know why may last comment got duplicated. Sorry for that.
09 August 2012, 17:08
00
If the „mother of all Lebanese Judas“ is jailed for eternity, then you know that Lebanon is turning in the right way....
10 August 2012, 01:00
00
If Miqati says the reason for the arrest is not the STL but for security reasons, read: it is the STL who demanded his arrest ! Which judge or security officer would be fool enough to confront the gov as a whole, and other security agencies from the Hizb and others, if he wasn't holding an ace of spate?? That has to be the STL ! Samaha's name and that of Qandil had perspired during Mehlis days... Then more recently , a high ranking unnamed politician was deemed to have taken part with the assassination plot against Hariri..There you go, now we're getting closer to know!
