(Times-UK) Nicholas Blanford - Syrian Intelligence, headed by Brig-Gen. Rustom Ghazali, is thought to have about 20 offices in Lebanon as well as officers stationed in strategic places, such as the Defense Ministry and Beirut international airport. Last September Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, whose murder last month sparked anti-Syrian protests, returned from holiday with his shoulder in a cast. His press office said he had slipped in the bath. But a rumor soon circulated around Beirut that his injury was caused by Gen. Ghazali, who had smashed his shoulder with a rifle butt. "It is the gross interference of Syrian intelligence agents, and their Lebanese counterparts, in almost every aspect of Lebanese life that has rallied the opposition and created a strong current of anti-Syrian opinion," wrote Patrick Seale in Beirut's Daily Star last week.
2005-03-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive