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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syrian President Asks Mehlis Commission For Protection
2005-11-18
Beirut, 18 Nov. (AKI) - Syrian president Basher al-Assad has told a UN comission of inquiry into the murder of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri that he is willing to collaborate with it on condition that he and his family receive protection, an investigator working for the commission revealed on Friday. The investigator who works for the UN probe headed by German judge, Detlev Mehlis, made the revelation in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI). He spoke on condition of anonymity.
"Please don't let them kill me!"
"The Syrian president asked if the commission is in a position to set up a (witness) protection programme for himself and his family," the investigator told AKI, without indicating when Assad made the request. "He was told that the commission has not been granted such powers and only a national state or the United Nations can take such a measure," the investigator said.
It's time to play, "Let's Make A Deal!" I'm sure Phoenix could always use another eye doctor
Assad's name appears on a list of people the commission is seeking to question in connection with Hariri's murder, he added. According to the investigator, the commission has granted Assad the possibility to choose the venue in which he would eventually be questioned - unlike six other top Syrian officials who Mehlis wants to interrogate at the commission's Beirut headquarters.
Better hurry, Basher.
Choose the venue? A safe house in rural Virginia would work well.
If true, this would be the drop of another domino. If Baby Assad needs a witness protection program, that means he's not going to be warming the Seat of All Power in Damascus.
Posted by:Steve

#19  Lebanese sites have picked up the story from AKI. It'll be all over the region soon. He either needs to issue a denial, pack his bags or both.
Posted by: Steve   2005-11-18 16:21  

#18  Maybe Assad can clarify exactly why Senator Rockefeller was there before the war to warn them in time to move the WMD's before bombing commenced.
Posted by: Danielle   2005-11-18 16:13  

#17  AZCat. I live in the VA burbs and there is a house for sale just down the street. He better bring his protection though. I'd hate to see a freak gardening accident befall him.

This is too good to be true. At best it's a plant to further weaken him. In the dictator biz, asking for protection is akin to quitting.
Posted by: JAB   2005-11-18 15:34  

#16  Cheese, guys, Basher's always been a stooge for his dad's cronies. Try and keep up, huh?
Posted by: mojo   2005-11-18 15:07  

#15  Oh. Darn. Well ...if he was smart....
Posted by: 2b   2005-11-18 15:06  

#14  Sadly, 2b, I was joking.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-11-18 15:01  

#13  AKI? What wire service is that? The site looks... Italian?

Yes, it's Italian. They seem to be wired in pretty good in the Middle East. So far I haven't caught them in any bogus stories.
Posted by: Steve   2005-11-18 13:30  

#12  He's ready to squeal on Kofi.

ooooh! I like that thought! That's a pretty good trading card.
Posted by: 2b   2005-11-18 12:59  

#11  He's ready to squeal on Kofi.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-11-18 12:53  

#10  AKI? What wire service is that? The site looks... Italian?

Sounds like sub-Debka rumormongering, but what a hell of a rumor...
Posted by: Mitch H.   2005-11-18 12:35  

#9  Could this be disinformation to hasten Zippy's untimely demise? No one likes a squealer. In an institutionally corrupt regime which trades in deceit, the powers that be would likely send him to join Hariri.

It seems this is acase where the statement, whether true or not, will become reality in short order. Even if not true, Assad may have to seek protection now that he is suspected of turning.
Posted by: mjh   2005-11-18 12:31  

#8  Army guy...lol! I'm not sure you are right about that thought, he'd be very welcome there.
Posted by: 2b   2005-11-18 11:35  

#7  WTF to get witness protection you have to give up someone bigger, baby Assad is the pres is he saying that he is not in charge of his own nation? What the hell is he tryin to claim that he is a figure head who is a puppet of others or even other foriegn powers?? Who is he going to rat out Iran or the old Saddam bathist to blame. I dont know sounds like BS to me but who knows.
Posted by: C-Low   2005-11-18 11:33  

#6  Lenscrafters of Ryhad. First pair are always free.
Posted by: john   2005-11-18 11:05  

#5  I call bullshit. If I'm Zippy I take my chances, especially since it'd be so tough to get a head shot on my teeny, tiny melon.
Posted by: tu3031   2005-11-18 11:04  

#4  Does this mean he's agreeing to stand down? I just don't believe it.
Posted by: Jake-the-Peg   2005-11-18 10:58  

#3  I dunno. I bet Abu Ghraib could use a eye doc too.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-11-18 10:56  

#2   Give 'em a house in the Virginia 'burbs on the condition that he come clean on where he stashed Saddam's WMD program

Good idea. Wouldn't that be a stick up a liberals ASS!!!
Posted by: ARMYGUY   2005-11-18 10:50  

#1  Give 'em a house in the Virginia 'burbs on the condition that he come clean on where he stashed Saddam's WMD program.
Posted by: AzCat   2005-11-18 10:45  

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