Former pro-Syrian minister, MP arrested in Lebanon, updates

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Former Lebanese MP and Information Minister Michel Samaha was detained by Lebanese Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch for interrogation on Thursday over a “sensitive” security-related matter, his wife and media reports said today.

Security Forces reportedly raided his residences in Ashrafieh, Beirut, and Jwar al-Khenshara , Metn, early Thursday upon orders from Acting Prosecutor General Samir Hammoud.

Samaha, 64, was taken from his Khanshara home at 2 a.m., the reports said

Samaha’s wife told LBC TV that the former minister was still in bed and in his pajamas when the security forces dragged him out and forced him into one of four vehicles waiting outside his Jwar al-Khenshara house.

Lebanese National News Agency also reported on Thursday that the security forces had raided Samaha’s residence in Beirut and searched it before undertaking the raid on his residence in Jwar al-Khenshara.

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah received former minister Michel Samaha, in presence of Hezbollah Media Advisor Haj Mohammad Afif – June 29,2010

Both residences are still being searched for incriminating evidence.

There is a lot of speculation over Samaha’s detention

MTV said Samaha was detained over his alleged involvement in the assassination attempt against Akkar MP Khaled Daher, a member of the Future bloc.

But Daher later told MTV that he was surprised by the report. “I don’t have any information about this case,” he said.

Others reported that he may have been arrested for collaboration with Israel. But LBCI said such reports were inaccurate.

Samaha is known for being a staunch ally of the Syrian regime and Hezbollah. He was among several pro-Syrian Lebanese officials who were sanctioned in 2007 by the United States for “contributing to political and economic instability in Lebanon.”

Last November Samaha criticized the sanctions against Syria as a further attempt to break up the country.

“The sanctions are aimed at deconstructing Syria and not to reform it “, he was quoted as saying

Samaha and other supporters of the Syrian regime said they expected the impact of the sanctions to be limited, in large part because Syria’s largest trading partners will not join them. A possible reference to Iran, Russia and China

Update: Voice of Lebanon radio station reported on Thursday that the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) members may bloc the roads leading to Jwar al-Khenshara to protest against Samaha’s arrest.

Update 2: Samaha’s car a Mercedes Bennz model 600 with plate number 7778777 was confiscated by the security forces.

Update 3: Samaha’s driver Fares Barakat was arrested for interrogation

Update 4: PM Nagib Mikati told a delegation representing the editors association that Samaha was arrested for security reasons and we are waiting for the judicial investigation

Update 5: Gladys Samaha , Michel Samaha’s wife told reporters : He was arrested for political reasons because he represents a political line in the region and a political group in Lebanon and I expect this group to make a move. A possible reference to the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance

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15 responses to “Former pro-Syrian minister, MP arrested in Lebanon, updates”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Communist tactics … midnight raids to drag people out of bed and send to secret places. Well known to the Russians.

    1. breakthemould Avatar
      breakthemould

       This is a bit strange is it no?. If he is pro Syria, pro Hizballah then who is doing the arresting? The Lebanese government or Hizballah? – We know that an anti Syria regime had his passport taken by the General Security Chief. So, who is running Lebanon please tell me. Or has Smaha been recently discovered to have been a hidden anti Hizballah operative and has just been discovered. A sophisticated operator I would say if that is the case.

      1. lebanese internal security forces arrested him…not army intelligence…and whats weird is noone is saying anything?????

      2. not sure if you are aware…recently army took daher to caught for slander and false accussations…army is seeking to have dahers parliamentary priveledges abolished…..now this happens….internal security forces are controlled by rifi and wissam elhassan…..last time in tripoli when mowlaki was arrested by the army they took to the streets because they didnt like the way he was arrested….so how do we explain what has happened now????

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Getting more real news all the time … a good thing for sure … might stop the silly speculating and burning of tyres if they did that more often. 

    2. breakthemould Avatar
      breakthemould

       This is a bit strange is it no?. If he is pro Syria, pro Hizballah then who is doing the arresting? The Lebanese government or Hizballah? – We know that an anti Syria regime had his passport taken by the General Security Chief. So, who is running Lebanon please tell me. Or has Smaha been recently discovered to have been a hidden anti Hizballah operative and has just been discovered. A sophisticated operator I would say if that is the case.

      1. not sure if you are aware…recently army took daher to caught for slander and false accussations…army is seeking to have dahers parliamentary priveledges abolished…..now this happens….internal security forces are controlled by rifi and wissam elhassan…..last time in tripoli when mowlaki was arrested by the army they took to the streets because they didnt like the way he was arrested….so how do we explain what has happened now????

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Communist tactics … midnight raids to drag people out of bed and send to secret places. Well known to the Russians.

    1. breakthemould Avatar
      breakthemould

       This is a bit strange is it no?. If he is pro Syria, pro Hizballah then who is doing the arresting? The Lebanese government or Hizballah? – We know that an anti Syria regime had his passport taken by the General Security Chief. So, who is running Lebanon please tell me. Or has Smaha been recently discovered to have been a hidden anti Hizballah operative and has just been discovered. A sophisticated operator I would say if that is the case.

      1. lebanese internal security forces arrested him…not army intelligence…and whats weird is noone is saying anything?????

      2. not sure if you are aware…recently army took daher to caught for slander and false accussations…army is seeking to have dahers parliamentary priveledges abolished…..now this happens….internal security forces are controlled by rifi and wissam elhassan…..last time in tripoli when mowlaki was arrested by the army they took to the streets because they didnt like the way he was arrested….so how do we explain what has happened now????

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Getting more real news all the time … a good thing for sure … might stop the silly speculating and burning of tyres if they did that more often. 

  3. guss043 Avatar

     I wonder if the security forces dare to arrest any Hizbollah members who were accused to plot Hariri killing, Amazing how selective the internal Leb security is , well at least they manage to arrest a man by himslef who have no militia. Let see how long Samaha will remain in custody with Assad / HizboIiran protest against 🙂

  4. guss043 Avatar

     I wonder if the security forces dare to arrest any Hizbollah members who were accused to plot Hariri killing, Amazing how selective the internal Leb security is , well at least they manage to arrest a man by himslef who have no militia. Let see how long Samaha will remain in custody with Assad / HizboIiran protest against 🙂

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