Syrian Ambassador Denies Rifi’s Accusations
Syrian ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali on Friday denied reports that his embassy was behind the disappearance of Syrian opposition members who have gone missing in Lebanon, calling such accusations "unfounded."
"I am puzzled by these unfounded claims that have been attributed to the police chief," Ali told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.
"Such accusations affect coordination between the two countries as concerns security issues," he added.
He accused some Lebanese officials and MPs of seeking to undermine his country, where the regime of President Bashar Assad is in the throes of a brutal crackdown aimed at crushing an eight-month-long revolt.
Ali was referring to Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi who said on Monday that the ISF collected "dangerous information" linking the Syrian Embassy to the disappearance of Shebli al- Aisamy.
Aisamy, 86, is a co-founder of Syria's ruling Baath party who fled his native country in 1966 over political differences. He was last seen in May in the eastern Lebanese region of Aley.
On his part, Mansour also noted that Lebanese police in recent weeks had arrested several traffickers sending weapons to Syria.
"All these issues need to be dealt with so that they don't affect security in Lebanon or Syria," he said.
Source: Agence France Presse
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