Syria arrests top officials in Hariri murder case - Bashar's relative part of the mystery
Three top ranking Syrian officers have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al Hariri.
The three men are Jamea Jamea, former Syrian intelligence official in Lebanon, Said Rabah, Syrian intelligence official in Mount Lebanon, and Ghassan Bilal, director of Maher al Asad's (brother of Bashar al Assad) office.
They are in jail near Damascus.
Muhammad Makhluf, a relative of the President, is criticially ill in hospital, after a car crash. It's thought the 'accident' was an assassination attempt against him.
It comes as America and Syria move closer to reaching an 'understanding' over Lebanon. Were these arrests part of the deal?
what are your resources Sasa, are they relaible?
Posted by Anonymous | 8:47 pm
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?selected=Situation%20Reports&sitrep=1&id=300418
Posted by sasa | 10:36 pm
you forgot the snotty remarks about how the Lebanese always accuse the Syrian intelligence while every one knows the Syrian intelligence are not involved.
Posted by Anonymous | 11:39 pm
Sasa, do you have any Arabic sources? Can't access stratfor, it's private.
Posted by Anonymous | 2:38 am
Hey Yaman, here's the article. I haven't got any other sources at the moment. I'll let you know if I get any.
Three ranking Syrian officers suspected of involvement in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri are under arrest, Stratfor souces said Dec. 21. The officers are: Jamea Jamea, former Syrian intelligence official in Lebanon; Said Rabah, Syrian intelligence official in Mount Lebanon; and Ghassan Bilal, director of Maher al Asad's (brother of Bashar al Assad) office. The three are believed to be in jail in Sahnaya, a suburb of Damascus in the Ghouta agricultural area. Muhammad Makhluf, a fourth officer accused of involvement in the assassination, is currently hospitalized in critical condition following a traffic accident. Rumors indicate that the accident was aimed at eliminating Makhluf.
Posted by sasa | 2:42 am