Bassil Accuses Government of Violating Wiretap Law
A fresh dispute over wiretapping erupted at Cabinet meeting on Thursday between Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil, who accused the government of violating the law, and the ruling majority.
Local media on Friday said the majority Cabinet ministers were committed to ensuring that all security forces” needs were met.
They said Bassil, however, presented a dossier, stressing that eavesdropping wiretapping cannot continue.
Bassil said the deadline given to security and military authorities ran out without any amendment to the wiretap law number 140.
Bassil had objected to granting both security and military authorities the right to withdraw "all" data.
"Quote me as saying: The government is not only violating the law, but also the sanctity of the people," Bassil told reporters following the lengthy Cabinet session which ended around midnight.
Cabinet decided to set up a ministerial committee headed by Prime Minister Fouad Saniora to draft a technical, scientific and security plan that would ensure the work of the security services.