Hezbollah condemns summoning of general

Beirut: Hezbollah demanded on Friday that Lebanese authorities withdraw a state summons for a former army general who called Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri a liar and urged people to topple his government.

Former General Security chief Major General Jamil Al Syed was among four pro-Syrian officers who were jailed without charge for nearly four years in the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, Rafik.

They were freed last year for lack of evidence.

The state prosecutor summoned Al Syed for questioning over his comments on Sunday that "the Lebanese people must unite against this [government] and topple it, even if by force."

He also accused Hariri of supporting false witnesses who misled the investigation into his father's death — a killing that set off a wave of turmoil that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops after nearly 30 years.

Hezbollah — which is a partner in Lebanon's fragile unity government —condemned the summons.

"We in Hezbollah consider the decision politically motivated and it aims to oppress and terrorise any person who says the truth," the group said in a statement.

"We strongly reject it and call on [authorities] to withdraw it quickly."

Strained relations

The statement was the latest example of the increasingly strained relations between Hariri's Western-backed bloc and Hezbollah, which has gained enough power in recent years that it now has virtual veto power over government decisions.

Hezbollah has two ministers in Lebanon's unity government and is by far the country's most powerful political and military force.

Al Syed left the country shortly after his remarks but was expected back today — the deadline given on the summons demanding that he show up for questioning.

Meanwhile, the UN tribunal investigating the assassination of Hariri says Al Syed, a former suspect, will be allowed to view some of the files gathered for his case.

Al Syed asked the tribunal to release his secret case file so that he can find out who accused him.

In a statement on Friday, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague, Netherlands, said Al Syed had a fundamental right to see his own file, as long as it does not compromise ongoing investigations or matters of Lebanese national security.

Judge Daniel Fransen invited prosecutors to request any limitations by October 1.

Also on Friday, Hezbollah MPs and their allies refused to approve funding for the tribunal.

Jamal Jarrah, whose party holds the majority in parliament, said that minority Hezbollah deputies and their supporters had refused a financial provision for the court in the national budget.