 The Lebanese security chief yesterday offered to stand trial to clear allegations of negligence in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Jamil Al-Sayyed, head of the General Security Directorate, however, rejected opposition calls for intelligence officers to quit, saying they would do so only if the opposition won power. "All chiefs of the security organs are ready to stand trial because we don't have any secrets," he told a news conference. "I have decided, on behalf of all those chiefs, to start legal proceedings against ourselves on the charges published and made through the media of shortcomings, negligence, complicity, cover-up or involvement (in Hariri's assassination)," he said. "We are ready to bear the consequences."
| "I have decided... to start legal proceedings against ourselves..." I don't think I've ever heard such a statement before, except possibly in Blazing Saddles... |
Opposition leaders have called on top security officials, all close to Syria, to step down, saying they could be involved in the Feb. 14 bombing that killed Hariri. The opposition has blamed the blast on Syria or its local allies in Lebanon. Damascus condemned the killing and denied any involvement. "I say to those who are accusing us and demanding we resign or get sacked that if you want us to resign because you won, we are ready to resign voluntarily once you actually win," Sayyed said. |