2008, December 13 - Naharnet - Defense Lawyers Call on President to Look in to Bellemare's Recommendation

Defense lawyers for Generals Jamil al-Sayed, Ali al-Hajj and Brigadier Generals Raymond Azar and Mustapha Hamdan, called on President Michel Suleiman to look into the recommendation made by United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) Commissioner Daniel Bellemare given to Judge Saeed Merza regarding their arrest. Former head of Attorney's Syndicate Issam Karam at a joint press conference with the defense lawyers called on the judiciary to be responsible saying:" innocence is like the truth it cannot be placed beneath the balance." Defense lawyers quoted article two of UNSCR 1595 that created UNIIIC in which the Security Council called on the Lebanese government to ensure that the findings and conclusions of the Commission's investigation are taken into account fully. Karam stressed saying:" If Lebanon's judiciary is ready to practice its authority, which is its right and duty, then it must immediately release the four officers for they are innocent."