Gemayel: Politicians under threat, Harb briefed on plot

MP Sami Gemayel warned of a persistent threat of assassination for Lebanese politicians over the weekend, while MP Butros Harb received a briefing on the assassination plot that targeted him last week. “The ghost of assassination ... continues to stalk us. We have been living with security concerns for several months, beginning with what happened to me and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea; what just happened to MP Butros Harb proves that the situation remains unchanged,” Gemayel said to a local radio station. Earlier this year, Gemayel was advised to take precautions against a possible assassination attempt. A few months later, Samir Geagea said he escaped an assassination attempt when shots were fired at his residence in Maarab, Mount Lebanon. Last month, former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora received warnings of a possible assassination attempt. Gemayel added that there was an obstacle in the security agencies preventing investigations from reaching concrete results, pointing to the recent refusal of some authorities to release telecommunications data about assassination attempts. Harb, a leading figure in the March 14 coalition, was the target of an assassination plot Thursday. Explosive detonators were found on the ceiling of the elevator in the Badaro building housing Harb’s law office. Three men suspected of planting the devices escaped. Harb was updated by top security officials Saturday on the progress of the investigation into his case. Following a meeting with Lebanese Army Gen. Jean Kahwagi at Harb’s residence in Hazmieh, the MP told reporters the talks between the two were aimed at assuring him that all the state’s legal apparatuses were following up on the incident and “the investigations are proceeding in a positive manner.” He also said information available to security agencies raised hopes “we are on the right track in terms of uncovering the identity of those [responsible].” Asked whether he had any information about the political side behind the attack, Harb said: “For certain there is a side that carried out [the operation]. However, I am not able to specify at the moment nor do I have the desire to point the finger of accusation lightly,” he said. “However, I can say the general environment in the country is responsible for this crime in that it made it easier for this side to attempt to assassinate a number of officials and citizens in the country,” he added. The Batroun lawmaker had served security and judicial authorities with a 48-hour deadline to uncover the circumstances of the assassination attempt, saying that he would talk to the media about the incident at a news conference Monday. Harb said Saturday he would hold off on the news conference he had promised to hold, citing the need for additional time to evaluate the findings. The March 14 coalition has held the government responsible for the assassination attempt and has called for the current Cabinet to step down, a call which has been rebuffed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Most investigations into assassinations and assassination attempts in the past have failed to lead to an arrest. The Daily Star