Naharnet

Suleiman Lauds Rifi, al-Hassan for ‘Warding Off Dangers’

President Michel Suleiman hailed on Saturday Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and the head of Police Intelligence, Col. Wissam al-Hassan, for “warding off the danger threatening Lebanon.”

His comment came during talks with Rifi and al-Hassan at Beiteddine palace.

The National News Agency also quoted Suleiman as saying that it is scary to think about plots aimed at creating strife that the Lebanese would pay the price for.

The two police officials also visited Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat in Mukhtara.

Rifi and al-Hassan have come under attack by March 8 majority coalition officials for raiding the house of former Minister Michel Samaha and allegedly arresting him in an inappropriate way.

“The arrest took place by an unreliable agency,” Energy Minister Jebran Bassil told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

March 8 has always been at loggerheads with the Intelligence Branch which it describes as a tool for the March 14 opposition alliance.

Samaha was arrested at his home in the North Metn town of Jwar al-Khenshara by the ISF Intelligence Branch during a raid it on Thursday morning for his involvement in the transportation of explosives from Syria to carry out bombing attacks in Lebanon.


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