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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Cedar Guards leaders deny urging Lebanese to kill Palestinians |
| 2005-09-20 |
| The lawyers of three leading members of the Cedar Guards denied yesterday that their clients had urged Lebanese to kill Palestinians and called on the public not to believe "misleading media reports." The lawyers of Naji Audi, journalist Habib Younis and Joseph Khoury Tawq, who were arrested for "issuing a statement that incites internal sedition," said their clients and the party's leadership denied that their statement included such slogans, and said they did not know who had distributed the CD containing this statement at the end of a conference they held. Media reports said the three men issued a statement during a news conference saying that "every Lebanese should kill a Palestinian." The group has long called for the expulsion of Palestinian refugees and their descendants from Lebanon. They were arrested the following day. According to the lawyers, their clients did not know anything about the CD, which turned out to contain a history of the party and mentioned some old slogans that the party no longer adopts. The lawyers said their clients were keen on civil peace and the rights of all people, including the Palestinians, for whom they wish a safe return to their homeland. Beirut Chief Investigating Magistrate Abdel-Rahim Hammoud questioned the three men and issued warrants for their arrest warrants on charges of inciting the killing of Palestinians, forming a group for the purpose of committing crimes against people and property, undermining the state's authority and stirring sectarian strife. Hammoud summoned four witnesses for a session on Thursday. After the session, he will decide whether to take other witness statements or seal his investigation. |
| Posted by:Fred |