Abdul-Halim Khaddam, the former vice president of the Syrian president, stated in an interview with the French radio Europe 1 yesterday, Tuesday, that he is firmly convinced that the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, gave the order to assassinate the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Khaddam stated, “I am firmly convinced of that,” confirming that the Syrian president had issued threats to Rafik Hariri. He said, “He (Bashar al-Assad) told the investigation committee into Hariri’s assassination, which its president, German Detlev Mehlis, met last week, that such a decision (to assassinate Hariri) is only made by the head of state, surrounded by a group from the regime.”
In comparing the current Syrian president to his father, Khaddam mentioned that Hafez al-Assad used his intellect and listened to others, while Bashar al-Assad is impulsive, weak, and loves money. He reiterated that Bashar al-Assad makes decisions and takes actions without being aware of what he is doing. He is disturbed, anxious, sleeps very little, and is constantly emotional.
