War of Magnetic Tapes Continues, ISF Says Judiciary Aware of Phone Calls
The war of magnetic tapes has escalated with a local television station broadcasting an audiotape of a phone conversation between Lebanese police chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and detainee Ahmed Merhi who is known for his links with Fatah al-Islam.
The audiotape was aired Monday night by New TV, while Gen. Michel Aoun”s Orange TV said in turn that a satellite television station would soon broadcast a similar tape. It did not give the name of the station.
The Internal Security Forces on Tuesday issued a statement clarifying the circumstances behind the telephone conversation between Rifi and Merhi.
The statement stressed that Merhi had never telephoned the ISF or worked for it, adding that the Lebanese judiciary is aware of these calls.
It explained that when Merhi called Rifi the day security forces launched a raid against Fatah Islam terrorists in Tripoli”s Mitein residential compound, Merhi presented himself as a "Fatah al-Islam negotiator" using a non-Lebanese cell phone.
The ISF statement urged the media to be objective and accurate in presenting news related to police activities.
Security sources had earlier clarified and explained the details and circumstances behind the telephone conversation to the daily An Nahar.
The sources said Merhi conducted 18 telephone calls the day security forces ringed the residential compound on Tripoli”s Mitein Street which was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting between Lebanese troops and Fatah al-Islam militants in May 2007.
They said 17 of the 18 calls, which focused on lifting the siege of the residential compound, were made from the Syrian landline number 00963955555205. The first call was made from Lebanese cell phone number 03-135727.
The sources said Rifi tried to procrastinate until security forces were able to accomplish their mission – arresting suspects.
In the latest call Rifi warned Merhi to surrender or face all-out battle.
Merhi refused, saying: "You are not aware that we have 40 cruel fighters, are you?"
"Let it be war, then," Rifi replied. "We also have 400 trained Fuhood (leopards)."