Hariri Calls for Arab League Intervention
Head of al-Mustaqbal Movement Saad Hariri called for Arab League intervention to look into "confessions" aired by Syria”s state television last week about alleged links between Fatah al-Islam and the parliamentary majority leader.
In an overnight telephone call to Arab League chief Amr Moussa, Hariri asked the League”s secretary general to form a "fact-finding Arab committee to investigate the testimonies," a statement from his office said.
The statement recalled that the Ain Alaq crime, blamed on Fatah al-Islam, is under the jurisdiction of the Hariri commission.
Assigning an Arab League fact-finding commission to look into Fatah al-Islam crimes would "block attempts by the Syrian regime to blame Lebanon for spreading terror, which is a game that only the Syrian regime excels in," it said.
The statement accused Syrian President Bashar Assad”s regime of "trying desperately to stretch its hands to control Lebanon”s national sovereignty. We are confident that it would fail."
One of the suspects who appeared on Syrian TV identifying herself as Wafaa Abssi, daughter of Fatah al-Islam leader Shaker Abssi, claimed that al-Mustaqbal movement used to finance the group.
Al-Mustaqbal movement source had denied the "allegations and lies," broadcast by the Syrian television, saying it "confirms the established relation between Syrian intelligence and Fatah al-Islam."
The ruling March 14 coalition believed that the alleged testimonies pose a "serious development that aims at charging al-Mustaqbal movement with mere allegations."
A Future Movement ranking official had said the international commission probing the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri would be asked to look into what the Syrian TV has screened.
Syrian television said the group was behind the Sept. 27 car bombing in southern Damascus that killed 17 people.
Syrian Assistant Justice Minister Najm al-Ahmad and MP Khaled Abboud also blamed al-Mustaqbal movement and March 14 forces for the Damascus blast.