Gemayel Demands Suspension of Ties with Damascus over Samaha Case
Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel lashed out on Friday at Lebanese authorities for not suspending diplomatic ties with the neighboring country Syria after the judiciary demanded the death penalty for a Syrian security official.
Gemayel wondered how the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdul Karim Ali, wasn't expelled or summoned.
On Thursday, State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr referred a death penalty request against ex-Minister Michel Samaha and Syrian security official Ali Mamlouk to the military court to kick off trials.
The criminal court of cassation confirmed earlier on Friday receiving the file.
The MP addressed in his statements President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, demanding an explanation.
“The Syrian regime is protecting him (Mamlouk) and confirming that he is a security official,” Gemayel said.
He slammed the Lebanese authorities, stressing that the death penalty request requires the implementation of certain diplomatic measures concerning the relations between the two countries.”
“We either respect our judiciary or we don't,” the lawmaker added.
Earlier this week, First Military Examining Judge Riyad Abu Ghida indicted Samaha and Mamlouk on terrorism charges.
A search warrant to identify a Syrian colonel known only by his first name Adnan who plotted for the bombings with the other suspects was also issued.
Abu Ghida said Samaha and Mamlouk should be given the death sentence "for transporting explosives from Syria to Lebanon in an attempt to assassinate Lebanese political and religious leaders.”
The indictment also said that Samaha told the Syrian colonel and general that he would recruit people to carry out attacks in the northern Akkar region targeting Syrian rebels and weapons smugglers to Syria.
Samaha was detained in August, but Mamlouk remains free.
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