Suleiman Urges Assad to Clarify Syrian Officials Link in Samaha Case
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
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.
18 August 2012, 19:49
18
Is that a joke?? What do you expect Bashar to say?? "Yeahhh...I confess...I did it"!
Ridiculous!
18 August 2012, 19:54
17
How about asking him who killed,Bashir Hariri Mou3awad etc.............. The list is endless
18 August 2012, 19:55
12
it is just interesting that there has not been a comment from the butcher about this case. He just decided to totally ignore it. the evidence is over-whelming of their terrorist activities in lebanon, everyone knows it but can't do anything about it except try to make people aware of it. Hope his head and his brother's roll into the gutters soon. a ME free of bashar and the intense Iranian influence is required for the betterment of society, science, education and economy.
18 August 2012, 20:49
62
He will call and tell him, since Samaha get caught, you are his replacement. Go get them tiger.
18 August 2012, 21:14
14
do u just comment for the sake of commenting ? pathetic, use ur intelligence.
18 August 2012, 23:07
44
If my comment irritated you so much, then I apologize to you and your president. I left the intelligence to you and your president. You can expect a call from Bashar very soon, clarifying the misunderstanding.
18 August 2012, 21:44
00
i feel somehow proud about this declaration, one year ago he could be killed for such accusation.
18 August 2012, 22:02
00
Lebanese people have had enough with the civil war and sectarian problems in the past. We should stay united for a better Lebanon.
18 August 2012, 22:40
13
Deny, deny and deny--and insist. That will be the standard response as seen by syria, ha, and iran. ASSad may insist that it is due to terrorists--that's about as far as he'll go, but I doubt he even does that.
19 August 2012, 00:00
13
Assad answer will be: Those who revealed this rumor are Zionist and working for Israel.
In a month those who revealed the truth will be dead one way or another, simply like Kamal Jumblat, Bashir, Mouawad, Mufti, Harriri, Gemayel and etc...
19 August 2012, 02:43
03
Our president or any political figure in Lebanon shouldn't interfere with the judicial process. It's now in the hands of our judges.
19 August 2012, 14:49
01
hilarious because it's so true. Remember how Assad broke Rafic Hariri's arm before he killed him?
