[AFP] Syria's secret service has reportedly threatened Spanish soldiers in Lebanon in a bid to block the extradition of suspected arms dealer Monzer al-Kassar from Spain to the U.S. According to a memo cited by the newspaper El Mundo, the Spanish intelligence service fears that troops on UN deployment in southeast Lebanon could be targeted if the Spanish cabinet ratifies a judicial verdict and sends Kassar to the U.S. General Assef Schawkat, chief of Syrian military intelligence, wrote to his opposite number in Spain: "If you think we are going to ignore the affront inflicted by North-American henchmen on our brother (Kassar), you don't really know us." Around 1,100 Spanish soldiers serve in the UN interim force in Lebanon.
2007-12-25 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive