Syria to be let off hook for Hariri assassination?

JERUSALEM – A Lebanese magistrate this weekend issued formal arrest warrants against four pro-Syrian security chiefs detained for the murder of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, prompting speculation a United Nations probe into the assassination will eventually lead to the indictment of the Syrian regime, which has been widely blamed for the bomb attack.

But several politicians in Lebanon told WND they are aware of a deal that could get Syria off the hook. They point to worrying signs the past few days the international Hariri investigation is not ready to blame senior Damascus officials.

In the first major breakthrough of the Hariri probe since the attack six months ago, former general Lebanese security chief Jamil al-Sayed, ex-military intelligence boss Raymond Azar, former internal security head Ali al-Hage, and commander of Lebanon's presidential guard Mustafa Hamdan were arrested last week for possible involvement in the murder.

Their warrants were upheld this weekend by a Lebanese criminal court, while the U.N. team continues to grill the suspects.

The arrest of Hamdan was widely seen as an indictment of Lebanon's pro-Damascus president Amil Lahoud, whose term was extended by an official Syrian decree last year. Hamdan is a close Lahoud aide, and was known to take security orders directly from the now-embattled president.

The arrests were made at the request of the U.N. committee investigating the massive Beirut bomb blast that killed Hariri Feb. 14 and was credited by many with generating the international pressure that forced Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon in late April.

The Lebanese opposition, together with the U.S. and much of the international community, blames Syria for the Hariri murder and eleven other bomb blasts the past few months. The opposition was expecting the investigation to ultimately lead to an indictment of Syrian President Bashar Assad or senior Syrian officials close to him.

Several Lebanese leaders, though, tell WND they have been made aware of a back-door deal that might result in the probe stopping short of blaming Assad and other key Syrian leaders.

"Assad is pleading for his life and offering things the U.S. and the U.N. are interested in," a senior Lebanese politician told WND on condition of anonymity. "Syria is offering to drop Lahoud and to stop interfering in Lebanese politics in exchange for letting them off for Hariri."

The senior politician pointed to what he called "troubling signs" Detlev Mehlis, head of UN international probe, is reluctant to blame Damascus.

The politician said he was "taken aback" when Mehlis last week released former Parliamentary Member Nasser Qandil, claiming Qandil was no longer a suspect. Qandil was strongly associated with Syria, and was many times referred to in the Lebanese media as "Damascus' Spokesman."

"We are aware of a lot of information that may link Qandil [to the assassination]. It doesn't make sense he was released so quickly," the senior politician told WND.

Also, several opposition leaders said they were upset Mehlis has been referring publicly to the four arrested generals and others questioned in the probe as Syrian "witnesses" and not Syrian "suspects."

And some opposition leaders have previously stated Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, may have been involved in the assassination. Rumors have persisted the booby-trapped truck that killed Hariri was prepared in one of the southern towns controlled by Hezbollah.

But none of the four arrested suspects has direct affiliations with Hizbullah, and Mehlis announced last week "there is no indication that Hizbullah has any part in the crime whatsoever."

Another Lebanese politician, speaking from a cell phone in Paris, told WND, "Of course I am aware of deals to ensure Assad is not blamed." This politician too spoke on condition of anonymity, saying he "fears for his life."

"Assad is coming to New York soon. He wouldn't step one foot on U.S. soil unless he already made a deal, or he knows he's coming to make one," said the politician.

Assad is scheduled to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York Sept. 14-16. U.S. deputy ambassador to the U.N. Anne Peterson said American officials have no intention of meeting Assad during his trip.

Dr. Walid Phares, president of the Council on Foreign Affairs of the World Lebanese Cultural Union, told WND: "My guess is that the Syrians are sending messages about their readiness to cut a deal with the US. ... The ones who want the deal are the Syrians and some of their Arab allies. They want them to drop Lahoud, and back off Hezbollah."

"Bashar Assad has a very tough choice today," continued Phares. "Either he will let go of his allies and gain some more time for this regime, or draw a line in the sand and fight in Lebanon with Hizbollah and Lahoud."

Lahoud has come under repeated fire since the Hariri murder, with politicians as recently as yesterday calling for his resignation. Last week, the Lebanese cabinet canceled a meeting because it was to be presided over by Lahoud.

Although Syria formally withdrew its troops from Lebanon, Damascus is still accused of dominating Lebanon's security and intelligence services, and of using pro-Syrian politicians to interfere in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Michel Aoun recently told WND: "I have been given some information that confirms the presence of Syrian intelligence agents still operating inside Lebanon. This includes the infiltration by Syria of the Lebanese security forces, some of whom are acting for Syria."

Syria this weekend said it told Mehlis he can visit Damascus Sept. 10 to discuss interviewing Syrian officials. The U.N. had complained Syria was not fully cooperating with its Hariri probe.

Mehlis wants to question Syrian officials once responsible for security in Lebanon, but repeated to reporters this weekend there were no Syrian suspects in the case so far.

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U.N. botching Lebanon probe?

EX-PM: Syrian intel remains in Lebanon

Lebanese fear continued Syrian dominance

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