Dialogue Stuck, Bassil: Gov’t Existence A Necessary
It seems that the Lebanese history won't stop the habit of repeating itself.
2005: 4 Lebanese top generals were arrested. The political campaign was ready. Head of National Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt turned with the US ahead of the elections.
7 years later, a similar scenario was written with no main differences. However, this time the former minister Michel Samaha was arrested.
And those who once betted that the Syrian military pull out from Lebanon will weaken the resistance and its allies still bet that the current Syrian crisis will weaken the resistance.
This comes as the Lebanese arena is still governed by the surprises in Samaha's case as the file took its way through the judicial track.
Samaha..A Victim
Lebanese dailies highlighted Tuesday that the during the 1st round of investigations held by Military Judge Riad Abu Ghida differed from what the Internal Security Forces [ISF] has leaked concerning Samaha's confession.
According to "al-Akhbar" daily , Samaha accused Monday the ISF of luring him into a well-prepared trap through their agent Milad Kfouri.
"I made my confessions under psychological pressure," "al-Akhbar" quoted Samaha as saying.
He further mentioned that "the transported explosives were to be placed on the northern borders to prevent the smuggling of weapons and armed men from and into Syria."
For his part, Samaha's lawyer Malik as-Sayed assured that " the investigations are going well and if they continue the same way, we expect the release of Samaha soon."
Meanwhile, "as-Safir" reported that "Samaha appeared during the pale and vulnerable during the investigations, and added that "the investigation began after reading the ISF's initial investigation."
Well-informed sources told the daily that " the former minister clearly declined his confessions in the initial investigation."
"Samaha denied the charges of preparing to detonate explosive devices in Akkar region, and to target popular groups as well as political and spiritual figures," they added.
The paper also reported that Samaha's lawyers asked for investigating the head of the ISF , Major General Ashraf Rifi and the head of the Information Branch Wissam Hassan."
"The lawyers urged the authorities to take the necessary legal actions against them for their violations in the arrest and investigation,. They also called for a confrontation between the agent (M.K.) and Samaha," it clarified.
Similarly, "ad-Diyar" viewed that "the case is no more limited to Samaha but rather extends to Hassan and the false witness, Milad Kfouri."
"Hassan left Lebanon in the past few hours with an unknown task," the paper revealed and noted that "the task may be related to Milad Kfouri ."
According to the daily, the competent Lebanese authorities circulated Kfouri's name on the borders to know his destination."
"The ISF fell into a real quagmire in light of the insistence on the part of Samaha's defense lawyers that their client be interrogated in the presence of Kfouri," it said.
Dialogue Waits March 14's Response
On another level, the national dialogue table still waits March 14 decision to convene.
President Michel Suleiman's sources confirmed to "as-Safir" that " Thursday's session will be held as scheduled," and " they hoped for a positive March 14 decision regarding their participation."
In this context, the daily learned that contacts were held Monday between the President and the head of the "Future" bloc MP Fouad Siniora. "The two men agreed on holding a meeting to dialogue."
In remarks to "as-Safir", Siniora's circles neither confirmed nor denied "March 14" participation in Thursday's session.
"No final decision has been made in this respect; accordingly, contacts are ongoing with the president," the sources stated.
Bassil: US Not to Overthrow Gov't
On the governmental level, Energy Minister Gibran Bassil stressed that "it's not time for the US to overthrow the government, because they know that there is no alternative."
In an interview with "al-Akhbar", Bassil stated that " the US permanent interest is in Lebanon's stability because of heavy files, including the oil."
"The survival of the government is better to "March 14" than its going," Bassil said.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
