Charbel: Investigations into Shaaban Death are Underway
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel revealed on Tuesday that investigations in the murder of slain al-Jadeed television cameraman Ali Shaaban are underway.
He condemned the incident to al-Sharq radio, saying that it “was very unfortunate, especially since the cameramen were unarmed.”
He added that President Michel Suleiman has contacted the Lebanese Ambassador to Syria Michel Khouri to follow up on the death.
Asked if the security instability in Syria will spread to Lebanon, he replied: “I don’t want to speculate. Let us await the Syrian response over why their troops opened fire at the camera crew.”
“We have to know why they opened fire at them,” stressed the minister.
“The incident will be discussed at cabinet at the earliest opportunity,” said Charbel.
Meanwhile, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi also condemned the murder, stressing the need for the necessary legal action to be taken to uncover the truth behind his death.
He described Shaaban’s death as a “great loss” and presented his condolences to his family and colleagues at al-Jadeed.
The patriarch reiterated President Michel Suleiman’s demands that an investigation in the murder must be held and efforts should be exerted to avert similar incidents in the future.
Shaaban was killed on Monday in the northern border area of Wadi Khaled when he and two of his colleagues came under gunfire from the Syrian side of the border.
Reporter Hussein Khreis and cameraman Abed Khayyat managed to escape unharmed.
The TV network said the crew was in the area with the aim of filming a report about the situation there.
Shaaban was rushed to Al-Salam Hospital in al-Qbayyat where he later died of his wounds.
Al-Jadeed accused the Syrian army of the deadly shooting, saying it opened fire at its team which was on the Lebanese side of the border.
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