In Absentia Arrest Warrant Issued for Eid, His Son Says It's 'One Round in Battle with Rifi'

First Military Investigative Judge Riyad Abou Ghida on Monday issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Arab Democratic Party chief Ali Eid.

The warrant was based on the content of the lawsuit that was filed against him by the military prosecution in connection with the alleged smuggling of suspects wanted over the twin bombings that hit al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques in Tripoli last summer.

“We are under the law and the arrest warrant against Ali Eid is only one round and not the end of the battle with Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi,” Arab Democratic Party political relations official Rifaat Eid, Ali's son, told LBCI television.

But sources informed on investigations told LBCI that the arrest warrant would "pacify the situations in Tripoli because he is wanted on charges of smuggling a suspect, not direct involvement in the bombings."

Abu Ghida had issued a subpoena to Eid to testify before interrogators in November 2013 in connection with the case of the twin bombings that rocked the al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques in August that year.

The judge also issued arrest warrants for two suspects who are in custody – Eid's personal driver Ahmed Ali and Shehadeh Shannoud, who is accused of smuggling Syrian woman Sukaina Ismail into Syria. The woman is accused of driving the two cars that were used in the bombings from Syria into Lebanon.

According to investigations conducted by the army intelligence directorate and leaked by several media outlets, Eid's driver Ahmed Ali had confessed to facilitating the escape of Ahmed Merhi, which was denied at the time by Eid's son Rifaat.

The case was put on the back burner in the wake of the resignation of Najib Miqati's cabinet but it seems to be gaining steam, especially after Rifi – a former Internal Security Forces chief who hails from Tripoli -- was appointed as justice minister.

Rifi stressed on Sunday evening that he will exert efforts to move forward with all cases related to crimes, bombings and assassinations to preserve the principle of judicial accountability.

On August 23, two car bombs exploded outside the al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques in Tripoli, leaving 45 people dead and more than 800 injured according to an unofficial toll.