April 4, 2009 - Naharnet - Efforts to Contain Crisis over Generals' Release

Efforts are underway to help defuse tension that resulted in a sharp political split over the release of Lebanon's top four generals and opposition threats of stepped up campaigns to force the resignation of two Lebanese judges. The difficult task come as the Higher Judicial Council (HJC) readies to meet on Tuesday to contain a wave of condemnation triggered by the release of the four generals held without charge for nearly four years over the Feb. 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The daily An Nahar on Monday said contacts will continue in a bid to restore commitment to Thursday's cabinet decision to leave the generals' issue to the HJC. It said efforts will focus on convincing "some" factions within the Hizbullah-led opposition to call off plans to stage a sit-in outside the justice ministry on Tuesday to force the resignation of Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza and the examining magistrate into the Hariri case, Judge Saqr Saqr. Hizbullah has called for ensuring accountability of the judiciary over the "arbitrary" detention of the four generals who were held without charge as suspects in the Hariri case since August 2005. They are former head of the presidential guard, Mustafa Hamdan, security services director Jamil Sayyed, security chief Ali Hajj, and military intelligence chief Raymond Azar. They were released April 2. An Nahar said apparently not all opposition groups showed enthusiasm for escalation for fear of deepening the political rift. Meanwhile, As Safir newspaper quoted March 8 sources as saying the "opposition battle" is not one with the judicial institution, but with Mirza and Saqr. "If the HJC proved that they did not violate their (the judges) duties, the opposition is willing to apologize," one source told As Safir. HJC President Judge Ghaleb Ghanem said Tuesday's meeting is not a "routine" one."It's not like any other meeting. We would discuss the current issue and take the necessary stances," Ghanem said in remarks published Monday by As Safir. Judge Mirza said he would not take part in the HJC meeting because he had already planned to travel abroad to continue medical treatment. "Each person has the right to demand what he wants, and I have the right to take the appropriate position which relieves my conscience," Mirza told As Safir. Magistrate Saqr, for his part, justified the detention of the four generals, saying he acted in accordance with the requirements of the law.