Suleiman Urges Assad to Clarify Syrian Officials Link in Samaha Case
President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday that Syrian President Bashar Assad should contact him to clarify the charges against Syrian officials in the case of ex-Minister Michel Samaha.
“It is expected; I swiftly contacted Assad when Syria accused 33 Lebanese figures of being linked to security matters in Syria… Today Lebanon is charging a Syrian official (Ali al-Mamlouk) and I am waiting for him to clarify the matter,” Suleiman told reporters at Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s summer headquarters in Diman.
The Military Court charged earlier this month Samaha and Syrian security Chief Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk with forming a group to commit crimes in Lebanon.
A Syrian army colonel named only as Adnan was also accused as being an accessory to the conspiracy.
All three are suspected of forming a group to provoke sectarian killings and terrorist acts using explosives, which were transported and stored by Michel Samaha.
Suleiman told reporters that “he will not allow the Arab spring to have a negative impact on Lebanon.”
He expressed relief concerning the situation in Lebanon, noting that the Lebanese can ignite the situation or calm it down.
On the case of the 11 abducted Lebanese in Syria, Suleiman confirmed receiving a telephone call from French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius ensuring him that they are safe.
“Contacts are ongoing to resolve this matter,” he pointed out.
The 11 men were kidnapped in May 22 as they were returning to Lebanon through Syria from a pilgrimage in Iran.
The pilgrims were thought to be held in the Syrian region of Aazaz before Syrian regime forces targeted the region with airstrikes on Wednesday, raising questions about their fate.
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