French Court Reverses Decision to Release Georges Abdallah

A French court on Thursday annulled a parole granted to Lebanese leftist militant Georges Abdallah, after postponing its final decision several times, al-Mayadeen television reported.

Meanwhile, LBCI said security forces closed the road outside the French embassy in Beirut in anticipation of a possible protest by Georges Abdallah's supporters.

On March 20, three people were wounded in clashes between security forces and protesters demanding Abdallah's release outside French Ambassador Patrice Paoli's residence.

A French court had postponed the decision to release Abdallah to April 4.

The militant was jailed for life in 1987 after being convicted in the 1982 murders of U.S. military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov.

However, a French court last year granted parole for the former head of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction (LARF), provided he was deported back to his home country. The court then postponed a final decision, drawing ire from Lebanon.

Abdallah has been eligible for parole since 1999, but seven previous applications were all rejected.

A U.S. congresswoman on January 28 urged France not to release Abdallah.

Representative Grace Meng said she would draw up a bipartisan letter with other members of Congress calling on France to scrap Abdallah's possible release.

"We cannot stand idly by while an ally frees the murderer of another American in diplomatic service," said Meng, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Meng said the life sentence was "necessary."

"If released to Lebanon, Abdallah could very well resume his acts of terror, and target citizens of France, the United States, and other allied nations. We must stand firm and united against the threat of terrorism. Abdullah must remain locked-up for the rest of his life," she said.