Syrian Army Officer Discloses to Lebanese Court his Terror Mission in Beirut
An alleged Syrian Army colonel who goes by the name of Firas Ghannam has testified to the military tribunal that he was assigned to detonate bombs in Beirut”s Martyrs” Square on Feb. 13, 2006, apparently to foil plans to celebrate the first anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri”s assassination.
The daily al-Mustaqbal said Ghannam told the military tribunal he had received his orders from "Syrian Intelligence officer George Salloum."
The bombs were to be detonated on the eve of the first anniversary of the Hariri crime.
The report quoted Ghannam as saying he "did not intend to carry out the assignment," which he had accepted "to manage leaving Syria by infiltrating across the borders into Lebanon."
Ghannam and an alleged Tunisian suspect identified as Munir Hilal were arrested in the eastern Beqaa valley on Feb. 11, 2006, three days before the first anniversary of the Hariri assassination, according to the report.
Upon the arrest security agents confiscated from Ghannam a "forged identity card and a hand grenade," the report added.
It said Ghannam also testified to "relations" he had with Shehab Qaddour, better known by the code name of Abu Hureira, a ranking official of the Fatah al-Islam terrorist group who was killed in a clash with security forces in the northern town of Tripoli more than a year ago.
The military tribunal, chaired by Brig. Gen. Nizar Khalil, concluded its interrogations of Ghannam and Hilal on Friday. It is scheduled to convene on Feb. 20 to debrief witness Omar Ghannam.