Moussa in Beirut Saturday as Egypt Plans to Take Strict Measures in Issuing Visas for Lebanese
Arab League chief Amr Moussa is expected in Beirut on Saturday to discuss the alleged Hizbullah cell case with Lebanese officials as Cairo plans to carefully examine the passports of Lebanese citizens traveling to Egypt.
An Nahar newspaper said Wednesday that Moussa will visit several officials and attend the launching of "Beirut 2009 World Book Capital" on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar said that "involved state institutions" will carry out investigation over the issuance of a fake passport for the leader of the alleged cell, Sami Shehab, whose real name is Mohammed Youssef Mansour.
"This is very dangerous and it rarely happens," Najjar told Future News. "Probably the passport was issued as a result of a fake ID. That”s why it is premature to make an official stance."
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, citing well-informed Egyptian sources, said Tuesday that Cairo will file an official request with Lebanon demanding to open an investigation into what it called "serious deviations" the probe has revealed, most significantly of all is Lebanese authorities” "conspiracy" in facilitating the work of the Hizbullah cell.
The sources spoke of "grave breaches," including the usage of official Lebanese stamps to mark approval on forged documents.
An official Egyptian source told al-Hayat in remarks published Wednesday that Cairo will closely examine the passports of Lebanese traveling to Egypt.
"No one wants to impede the entry of Lebanese into Egypt. But at the same time (Egyptian authorities) will have to carefully examine the identification papers (of Lebanese) while getting their entry visas or entering Egyptian territories," the source said.
Al-Mustaqbal newspaper also said that Egyptian authorities concluded their interrogation of those in custody and several of the cell”s members were taken to prison pending the prosecutor general”s decision next week to refer the case to the state security court.