Lebanese Army tight-lipped on progress in riot probe
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) refused to give any details about its investigation into Sunday”s riots before its conclusion, as the death toll from the clashes rose on Tuesday to nine after Jihad Rashid Munzir died in hospital of injuries sustained in Mar Mikhael.
The army refused to confirm the identities or political affiliations of those arrested or whether they were detained for sniping at protesters. Amid the official silence, however, media speculation remained rife concerning the presence of snipers and their political affiliations.
Lebanese Forces (LF) boss Samir Geagea, who met Premier Fouad Siniora Tuesday, denied that LF members were arrested in connection with alleged sniping activities aimed at protesters in Mar Mikhael.
“These rumors are false. There were members of the Lebanese Forces as well as people from Ain al-Rummaneh that the army rounded up. Some were carrying guns without a permit, but it has nothing to do with [Sunday”s riots]. No one was sniping,”
Geagea repeated that “Had the Lebanese army been only seconds late on Sunday, a major catastrophe would have occured,”
“There are some intentional plans to destroy Lebanon. We are siding with the Lebanese government and army, for they form Lebanon’s salvation.” Geagea said following his meeting with Siniora.
Also Tuesday, the LF accused some media outlets and opposition politicians of launching a campaign aimed at “distorting facts” and laying blame for Sunday”s events on the Lebanese Forces. The LF said it has taken steps to file lawsuits against those who take part in this campaign or contribute to it.
The statement said the army rounded up a total of six Ain al-Rummaneh residents, including one Lebanese Customs employee who was in possession of a hand gun, and five other unarmed people. Al-Akhbar daily reported Tuesday that a man identified as Richard A., whom the paper referred to as a Lebanese Forces member, was arrested in possession of an assault rifle fitted with a scope.
A judicial source on Tuesday told The Daily Star that investigators were examining camera footage taken by news crews at the scene to determine where the shots were coming from, as well as footage from security cameras in the area. Investigators are also examining shell casings recovered from the scene and comparing them to bullets recovered from victims to determine where the shots were fired.
The judicial source said 30 people have been officially detained to date in connection with the events last Sunday, but investigations so far could not confirm the presence of snipers.