EGYPT: Leader of of Lebanon's pro-US parliamentary majority bloc Saad al-Hariri meets says assassination plan against himself and Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora has been uncovered

The leader of of Lebanon's pro-US parliamentary majority bloc Saad al-Hariri meets with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, then tells a news conference that an assassination plan against himself and Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora has been uncovered. The leader of Lebanon's pro-US parliamentary majority bloc, Saad al-Hariri has accused Syria's director of military intelligence, Assef Shawkat, of being involved in an alleged plan to assassinate him and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Al-Hariri, the son of the assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, made the claim about Shawkat, who is also the brother-in-law of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, while on a visit to Egypt, where he met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. A number of anti-Syrian Lebanese MPs have been assassinated since Rafik al-Hariri was killed by a massive car bomb in February, 2005. In response to a question from a reporter about reports that Shawkat was involved in the alleged plot, al-Hariri said his intelligence services had the same information. "We have information with regard to this and we are following it up, correct information, and the security agencies are working and there is cooperation between the Lebanese security agencies and other Arab security agencies concerning the assassination attempt not only on myself but also on Prime Minister Fouad Siniora," said Saad al-Hariri. Also today, al-Hariri criticized Syrian officials for what he said was interference in attempts by Parliament to agree on a consensus presidential candidate. "We want an independent, free Lebanon sovereign over itself. We don't' want any interventions. What Farouk al-Shara is trying to promote will not happen because we are aware of the attempt to sow turmoil by the Syrian regime, and especially someone like Farouk al-Shara. Turmoil between Sunni and Shi'ite in Lebanon is forbidden and we will not accept it," he said. The presidential election was delayed last week for the second time, until November 12, to allow time for pro- and anti-Syrian groups to find a compromise candidate to succeed pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, whose term expires on November 23. Agreement on a new president is seen as vital to resolving Lebanon's most serious political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. It pits the Western-backed, anti-Syrian government against the opposition, led by pro-Syrian Hezbollah.

ITN Source | October 31, 2007

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