Beirut - AFP - The statements of former Syrian Vice President Bashar al-Assad, Abdel Halim Khaddam, regarding the issue of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in the interview conducted with him on Friday, occupied the headlines of Lebanese newspapers yesterday. Al-Nahar newspaper wrote in its headline, “Khaddam reveals the secrets of the Hariri assassination crisis. Will he become the primary witness in the investigation?”
The newspaper quoted a senior official, whose name was not revealed, as saying that “Khaddam’s words were an aftershock equivalent to the earthquake of the Syrian withdrawal after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
” For its part, “Al-Safir” newspaper headlined, “Abdul Halim Khaddam testifies against his regime.” They deceived Bashar al-Assad and tempted him into exclusivity. The newspaper wrote in its main headlines, quoting Khaddam, “Yes, Rustom Ghazaleh threatened all the leaders and acted in Lebanon as if he were the ruler by his command.” The leadership misjudged the importance of Rafik Hariri and his assassination was a complex operation, and Meles Mhanni “Al-Sharaa misled the leadership and advised dialogue with Patriarch Sfeir and Qornet Shehwan and to restore Jumblatt to confront the 1559.”
As for the French-language newspaper “L’Orient-Le Jour,” it headlined, “Khaddam reveals a lot of dangerous information,” and “The Syrian regime has actually threatened Hariri.” The newspaper quoted Khaddam as saying, “In principle, a ‘security apparatus’ cannot take this decision to ‘assassinate Hariri’ alone.” “..Rustam Ghazala is a criminal and is still protected by the president.”
As for the “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” newspaper, it wrote, “In what constitutes a severe blow to the regime in Syria from within, Abdel Halim Khaddam said, “He did not imagine that Syria would assassinate the late Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.” For its part, the “Al-Mustaqbal” newspaper, which is owned by the Hariri family, wrote Al-Assad’s “servants” told me that he threatened Hariri to crush anyone who deviates from our decision. Those around Bashar incited him and Ghazaleh acted like an absolute ruler in Lebanon and took $35 million from the City Bank.”
As for “Al-Liwaa” newspaper, it wrote, “Abdul Halim Khaddam breaks his silence and reveals repeated mistakes of the Syrian leadership: “Al-Assad gave Hariri harsh words, and then I advised him to leave Lebanon.”
