International > 3 Generals Questioned in Hariri Slaying

Judge Questions Generals in Slaying of Ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri; President Urged to Resign

Divers from the U.N. investigators and Lebanese civil defense team carry a chunk of debris for possible use as evidence in the Feb.14 explosion that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri near the Saint Georges Hotel's bay in Beirut, Lebanon,

The four generals were among the most powerful men in Lebanon during Syria's long domination, and three are close to President Emile Lahoud. They led Lebanon's security services when Hariri and 20 others were killed by a bomb in Beirut on Feb. 14.

"How do you want the Lebanese to look at the president, when all the members of his work team are in prison on accusations of planning the assassination?" Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said in remarks published by the official National News Agency.

Aridi was referring to the generals close to the president: the commander of the Presidential Guards, Brig. Gen. Mustafa Hamdan, the former director general of military intelligence, Brig. Gen. Raymond Azar, and the former chief of General Security, Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed.

The three generals and a fourth, Maj. Gen. Ali Hajj, the former director general of the Internal Security Forces, have been detained since Tuesday when the prime minister said they were suspects in Hariri's murder.

Azar, Sayyed and Hajj stepped down in April amid public criticism of the government's handling of the investigation into Hariri's killing and widespread allegations that Lebanese allies of Syria were involved in the murder.

On Friday, Magistrate Elias Eid interrogated Hamdan, Azar and Hajj, Justice Ministry officials said. The fourth general, Sayyed, was expected to appear before Eid on Friday night, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the case's sensitivity.

The judge's questioning came a day after Lebanon's top prosecutor issued preliminary criminal charges against the four generals.

Under their detention orders, Eid has until Saturday night to decide the fate of the generals. They could either be released, remain in custody or face arrest warrants.

The interrogations were conducted in the Justice Ministry building. Ministry officials said Hamdan's interrogation lasted only 30 minutes, and the National News Agency reported he requested a lawyer.

A fifth suspect named by the United Nations, former pro-Syrian lawmaker Nasser Qandil, was released Wednesday after being questioned by the U.N. investigators.

Lebanese opponents of Syria have long called for the resignation of Lahoud, a staunch supporter of Damascus. The pressure magnified after Hariri was killed.

This week Lahoud vowed to stay in office. After Hamdan was named as a suspect, he issued a statement saying he was one of the best officers in Lebanon. He also instructed the judiciary to review the U.N. investigation's findings.

The order has drawn criticism.

Hariri's son, Saad, issued a statement Thursday that did not name Lahoud but warned against "any attempt to influence the investigation process, especially in trying to pressure the Lebanese judiciary."

Lawmaker Walid Eido, a member of Saad Hariri's parliamentary bloc, also called on Lahoud to step down Friday.

"It is time for the occupation of Baabda (presidential) Palace to end, after it was usurped on Sept. 3, 2004," he told reporters. He was referring to the extension of Lahoud's mandate for which pro-Syrian legislators had to amend the constitution.

Hariri's assassination was a turning point in Lebanese politics. It provoked mass demonstrations against Syria and greatly intensified the domestic and international pressure on Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. The last Syrian forces left in April, ending a 29-year presence in the country.

Syria has denied any involvement in Hariri's killing.

2005-09-03