In one of his most dangerous statements to date, the former deputy to the Syrian president, Abdel Halim Khaddam, revealed that he informed the head of the international investigation committee, German judge Detlev Mehlis, that he is “completely convinced” that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “gave the order” for the assassination of the late President Rafik Hariri. He claimed that Assad did so with accomplices, including his brother and brother-in-law, and he believes that Assad will be “tried,” considering the Syrian regime doomed to fall because it is “weak, and its leader is weak.”
Khaddam’s statements, made to “Europe 1” radio yesterday, coincided with prominent international and Arab positions showing determination to proceed with the investigation into the Hariri assassination to the end. French President Jacques Chirac, who had received Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, considered that “the era of interventions and evasion from accountability in Lebanon has passed.” Meanwhile, Prince Saud al-Faisal emphasized the implementation of international decisions regarding the investigation into Hariri’s assassination. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw welcomed the Saudi and Egyptian efforts, stating that what the two countries are doing “is the same as what the international community is doing, demanding Syria’s full cooperation with the international investigation.”
In response to whether he believes Assad “gave the order” to assassinate Hariri, Khaddam said, “Yes, I am completely convinced.”
Khaddam had announced his defection at the end of last month in an interview with the satellite channel “Al Arabiya,” confirming that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had threatened Rafik Hariri.
Khaddam stated yesterday that he told the investigation committee into Hariri’s assassination, which its head, German Detlev Mehlis, met last week, that “such a decision (the assassination of Hariri) is only made by the head of state,” adding, “No security officer can make this decision on his own (…) because it requires significant resources.”
Responding to a question about whether Assad made the decision to assassinate with partners such as “his brother and brother-in-law,” Khaddam said, “Yes, (he did so) with a group from the surrounding regime.”
The former deputy to the Syrian president believed that Assad will be “tried,” describing the assassination of Hariri as a “political crime.”
Khaddam said, “I have heard President Bashar al-Assad talking against Hariri on several occasions.” He recounted that “on one occasion, he received me, and he was upset. I asked him what was going on. He said, ‘I summoned Rafik Hariri and a number of Syrian security officers and told him you are conspiring against us; you are working with the French and Americans to bring a president (against Syrian interests). I am the one making the decision. Whoever goes against my decision, I will crush him.'”
In response to Assad’s denial of threatening Hariri, Khaddam said, “The truth is what happened in the campaign (…) by Syrian intelligence and allies of Bashar al-Assad against Hariri, accusing him of treason to prepare public opinion” before the assassination.
Comparing the current Syrian president with his late father, Hafez al-Assad, Khaddam said that “Hafez al-Assad used his intellect and listened to others, while Bashar al-Assad is emotional, weak, and loves money.”
He explained, “He is emotional, makes decisions without knowing their consequences, and is influenced by those around him. He has never made a decision based on study.”
Khaddam reiterated that Bashar al-Assad “makes decisions and takes actions without being aware of what he is doing.”
In response to a question about how he sees the current Syrian president, Khaddam, the former deputy, said, “He is disturbed, anxious, sleeps very little, and is constantly agitated.”
Regarding the next stage in Syria, Khaddam said that “the right path is to work now with all the Syrian opposition and with a number of Syrian figures to arrange a methodology for salvation.” He expected to reach, “at a certain stage, a national unity government (…) and hold elections.”
In response to a question about whether he is the “alternative” for Syria, Khaddam told French radio, “I don’t care who will be the alternative. I care about the salvation of Syria,” emphasizing that he is committed to it “until the end.”
As for the concerns that are being talked about regarding the “Muslim Brotherhood” coming to power, Khaddam considered that “the Muslim Brotherhood is part of the Syrian people, and every Syrian has the right to participate in political life.”
The General Observer of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni, announced from his exile on Saturday that the group is ready to work with Khaddam to change the regime in Syria.
Khaddam once again denied any contacts with the French authorities, saying, “I do not want any contacts with them.”
