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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Siniora wants to be in the loop on probe of Mughniyeh's murder |
| 2008-02-24 |
| Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora appointed two officials on Saturday to coordinate between Lebanon and Syria on the status of the investigation of the assassination of Hezbollah's Imad Mughniyeh. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Siniora instructed Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza and chairman of the Higher Lebanese Syrian Council Nasri Khoury to maintain contacts with the Syrian authorities with the aim of being " regularly informed on the ongoing investigation in the assassination of Lebanese citizen Imad Mughniyeh, who is a member of Hezbollah command and who was killed in Damascus on Feb. 12.” Many intelligence experts are of the opinion that the assassination of Mughniyeh could only have taken place with the collaboration of the Syrian intelligence . These experts do not deny that Israel may be behind the assassination , but the job could not have been done without the help of the Syrians. The Iranians are reportedly unhappy with the progress of the Syrian investigation and have publicly stated that they are involved along with the Syrians in probing the murder. There were also reports that Hezbollah has also sent its own team of investigators to Damascus, but Syria has denied the involvement of any outside parties in the investigation. This was also confirmed yesterday by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during his speech. Given the possible implications of the Syrian intelligence in this crime , many doubt the Damascus regime abilities in probing such a murder, specially since Assef Shawkat , the top man of the Syrian intelligence is the brother-in- law of the Syrian president Bashar al Assad. According to MP Samir Franjiyeh Syria’s negotiator with Israel , the Syrian-American Abraham Suleiman was talking to Israeli officials in Ankara Turkey about the Israeli Syrian relationship , the night Mughniyeh was assassinated and Israeli Defense Minster Ehud Barak was at the time in Turkey too. Turkey, which has good relations with both Syria and Israel has been trying to broker an agreement between them. Communications Minister Marwan Hamade questioned Hezbollah’s call for avenging the killing of Mughniyeh . “Why wouldn't Syria avenge the assassination of Mughniyeh who was killed in Damascus not in Lebanon.?” He asked. “Mughniyeh assassination in a Damascus suburb was a major insult to Syria's national security, unless Syria was involved in liquidating him," Hamade added. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #9 It rather seems like a bit much to expect Siniora to be an Israeli at heart. He is, after all, the PM of *Lebanon*, smn. FWIW I'm with Frank on this one - it's a difficult and thankless job he has and he's doing about as good a job at it as anyone is likely to do. Anyone still surviving Syrian carbombs that is. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-02-24 17:19 |
| #8 do what you wish - just expect to be called on nonsense when you post it. I do. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-02-24 17:07 |
| #7 Frank G, I will concede that if your..."the short list of tools and supporters?... statement may indicated the Siniora Government may have the "ear" of Meir, then yes, he'd have to play the 'double agent role' and that I may not need be so critical and sceptical of Lebanese intentions. However if this is your way of having me swallow this 'bowling ball' simply on the well meaning intentions of a no way out puppet, then add his name to the growing list of 'Neville Chamberlains'. As always, in such discussions,I will consider your wish for me to simply take my marbles and go play in another's sandbox...maybe the Rantburg 'battlefield' isn't big enough for the both of us!! |
| Posted by: smn 2008-02-24 16:53 |
| #6 Who would've done a better job, given the short list of tools and supporters? You have nobody, because it's a thankless impossible job. Keep yakking, though, your credibility goes down with each comment |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-02-24 16:09 |
| #5 BTW, the word 'senorita' is spelled correctly for the meaning I intend it to convey!! |
| Posted by: smn 2008-02-24 16:06 |
| #4 Frank G, don't start! You were there when the senorita cried and wailed and lamented the lost humanity and destruction upon 'his' homefront during the '2nd Lebanese War'. The senorita demanded so heartfully sickening, that the Israelis be censured and remanded by the UN to cease and desist their unlawful actions upon the valiant Hizballah! Frank G, reassess your glowing review of the senorita, He should resign rather than be dictated terms by Hassan and Baby Assad; and you just may have to 'eat your words' in the next conflict! |
| Posted by: smn 2008-02-24 16:03 |
| #3 smn, your unreasonable hatred of Siniora is ...well,....stupid. He's doing the best possible job of removing Syrian/Iranian/Hezb influence that he can, given the relative lack of power. He's been courting the French/US to help, and actually had the army wipe out the Fatah Al-Islam rebels, devastating the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. Pretty strong stuff. You, on the other hand, throw ad-hominem "siniorita" aspersions. Have a big ol cup of STFU |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-02-24 15:17 |
| #2 Apparently the winds of Change are permeating minds in all directions. that is good.....and so would the outcome be, change wears the grey cloak. stops momentum and regenerates hope. |
| Posted by: Spiny Gl 2511 2008-02-24 07:37 |
| #1 ...appointed two officials on Saturday to coordinate... Please, the senorita wishing upon a pair? After he finishes the A1 spit shine on Hassan's patent leather boots, he'll make sure they remember to take both jars of Vasoline®!! |
| Posted by: smn 2008-02-24 02:03 |