Palestinian Factions Slam Haphazard Accusations
The Palestinian Follow-Up Committee slammed on Saturday random accusations against Ain el-Hilweh refugees camp after the assassination of ex-Finance Minister and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's adviser, Mohammed Shatah.
“The amount of accusations against the refugee camp after any crime that happens on Lebanese territories ahead of investigations” is unacceptable, the committee said in a statement after holding an urgent meeting.
The committee stressed “positive neutrality in approaching any Lebanese dispute and (the Palestinians) keenness to safeguard Lebanon's security and stability.”
Shatah, 62, was killed in a car bombing in downtown Beirut on Friday morning as he headed to a meeting of the March 14 coalition at the Center House.
The Honda CRV that blew up was rigged with up to 60 kilograms of explosives, and parked along Shatah's route. The blast struck the former minister's SUV, killing him, his driver and six others.
Scores of people were injured in the bombing, mainly from flying glass in nearby office buildings and hotels.
The statement condemned a report saying that the Honda used in the bombing was stolen in early 2013 from the coastal town of Rmeileh in the Shouf district and then taken to the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in the southern city of Sidon.
“Moussa Khodr Moussa handed himself over to the Lebanese security agencies 10 months ago and testified that he had stolen the car,” the committee said in a statement.
It added “that Mohammed Saleh, who is known as Mohammed al-Sarii, was handed over to the Lebanese security agencies after the report was published but he was released after he was acquitted.”
The report published on Friday had said that Moussa M. and another called Mohammed S. stole the vehicle that carries a license plate with the number 177647/S.
The sources noted that Moussa M. and Mohammed al-Sarii were members of the Fatah al-Islam who receive their orders from the group's top official Haitham al-Shaabi.
The Palestinian Follow-Up Committee called in its statement on media outlets not “to make hasty accusations and be cautious and careful in its reports.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Fatah and the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon released a joint statement denying the alleged involvement of a man nicknamed Talal al-Ordoni in Shatah's assassination.
“Al-Ordoni is the chief of a brigade in the Palestinian National Security Forces and he is committed to the orders of his leaders,” the statement said.
“He arrested Moussa Moussa, who stole the booby-trapped cars, and handed him over to Lebanese authorities and the army Intelligence,” it added.
“We have contacted Lebanese security bodies and they assured us that al-Ordoni is not a suspect in Friday's bombing.”
Meanwhile, 15-year-old Mohammed al-Sarii, and right after hearing his name in media outlets, he turned himself to Lebanese authorities that released him few hours later, according to the statement.
“We do not interfere in local Lebanese affairs and we condemn all bombings that took place all over Lebanon,” the statement noted, urging media outlets to be “careful and accurate in reporting information and base their reports on reliable sources and concerned authorities.”
“Palestinian bodies and leaders are ready to cooperate with all media outlets in their reports about refugee camps.”
Reports on Friday said al-Ordoni was handed over the (olive green) car that entered the Ain el-Hilweh camp and that was used in the assassination of Shatah.
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