Former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam reiterated his accusations against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. In an interview with the French radio station “Europe-1,” Khaddam stated that he firmly believes President Assad personally ordered the assassination of Hariri.
Khaddam further emphasized that he conveyed to the head of the International Commission of Inquiry, Detlef Meles, that such decisions could only be made by the head of state. According to Khaddam, intelligence officers do not possess the authority to make decisions of such magnitude as they require extensive resources.
When asked by the Middle East News Agency whether Assad directly ordered Hariri’s killing, Khaddam responded, “Yes… This is my personal conviction… It’s a political crime.” Regarding the involvement of Assad’s brother and brother-in-law in the assassination decision, Khaddam affirmed, “Yes… He did it with a group of individuals within his regime.” Khaddam reiterated that he witnessed Assad in a state of great turmoil and anger after his meeting with Hariri, during which he threatened to eliminate “someone” if his decisions were not accepted in Lebanon.
Assad has consistently denied any involvement in the Hariri assassination, asserting, “I am an honest and straightforward man. I am unaware of the intentions of certain individuals. Claims of threats against Hariri are unfounded.” Meanwhile, Syrian Minister of Justice, Mohammed Al-Ghafri, confirmed that the Public Prosecution has filed a lawsuit against the “defendant” Abdel Halim Khaddam for multiple crimes, including high treason. Following his meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in Paris, French President Jacques Chirac once again called on Syria to fully and unconditionally cooperate with the International Commission of Inquiry. Chirac emphasized that Syria’s reintegration into the international community hinges upon a change in its behavior, and he stressed that those instigating attacks and plotting to destabilize Lebanon must realize that the era of intervention and impunity has ended.
