Hubbub over Generals” Release echoed Heated Debate in Cabinet
Clamor over the release of the four generals echoed a heated debate in Cabinet between the majority and opposition that finally ended with an agreement that Lebanese judiciary be given the authority to handle this issue.
The daily An Nahar on Friday said the argument lasted more than three hours, with the opposition demanding accountability of the Lebanese judiciary over the long detention of the four generals who were held for nearly four years without charge in the murder case of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
Cabinet ministers loyal to the government, for their part, rejected any manipulation of the judiciary, the paper said.
It said the rival ministers finally agreed in stressing the importance of the launch of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the need to "respect its decisions," in reference to the latest court ruling ordering the release of the four generals from nearly four years of detention.
Hizbullah minister Mohammed Fneish pledged commitment to the Cabinet decision, saying: "True, we are calling for accountability, but within the limits of respecting jurisdictions as well as separation of powers and independence of the judiciary."
Al Akhbar newspaper, meanwhile, said when Prime Minister Fouad Saniora mentioned he wanted to issue a statement to thank local judicial authorities, opposition ministers threatened him to come out to deny that any agreement was made in this regard.
It quoted Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil as saying: "…I want to know who distorted or misled the investigation and who produced false witnesses" leading to the arrest of the four generals.