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Future Bloc in Parliament criticizes President’s defense of Brigadier General Hamdan
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
MP Saad Rafic Hariri’s Future bloc in Parliament criticized President Emile Lahoud’s strong defense of the detained Presidential Guards Commander, Brigadier General Moustapha Hamdan, who is suspected of involvement in the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. The bloc, which met in Koreitem, also hailed the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and expressed full confidence in the United Nations commission that is investigating the February 14 terrorist attack.
The legislative bloc discussed the ongoing international probe and the recent charges that were brought against four security chiefs who are suspected of involvement in the murder of Premier Hariri. At the meeting, MPs condemned President Lahoud’s public defense of Brigadier General Hamdan, and his disregard of the consequences of such action, as well as his attempt to interfere in the international probe to save the “pillars of his former regime” from judicial prosecution. MPs stressed that such action breaches existing laws and harms the security of the Lebanese who have been gripped by the fear of bombings and assassinations since the President’s mandate was extended last year.
However, MP Hariri’s bloc pointed out that it is not slandering the presidency, saying President Lahoud has committed mistakes that made him the target of political criticism. They also hailed the Lebanese security forces for cooperating with the international investigation, for maintaining stability, and for arresting suspects in the terrorist attack.
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