May 5, 2009 - Naharnet - Lebanese Eye Special Judiciary Meeting as Generals' Release is said to be Price of U.S.-Syrian Deal

The Higher Judicial Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to respond to attacks launched by the opposition in the wake of the release of Lebanon's top four generals from nearly four years without charge as the security officers' freedom was reportedly the price of a U.S.-Syrian deal.
Judicial sources said that the HJC would issue a "calm and moderate" statement, stressing that the judiciary can be held accountable only by constitutional institutions.
They said the council would underline the role of the judicial inspection authorities "which have the sole ability to deal with such issues."

Lawyers representing the four generals, according to the sources, were ready to file a lawsuit against Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza and the examining magistrate into the murder case of former Premier Rafik Hariri, Judge Saqr Saqr.

The sources said intensive efforts have been exerted to make the opposition refrain from staging sit-ins outside the Justice Palace on Tuesday in "a bid to avoid security confrontation."

Local media said Mirza, accompanied by his wife, traveled to Prague early Monday for medical treatment.

The daily al-Liwaa, meanwhile, said the release of the four generals --former head of the presidential guard, Mustafa Hamdan, security services director Jamil Sayyed, security chief Ali Hajj, and military intelligence chief Raymond Azar – is likely the price of a U.S.-Syrian deal. The officers were released April 29.

It quoted U.S. observers as saying that the generals' release could be the price paid in Washington for restoration of relations with Syria.

The Wall Street Journal also wondered about the timing of the officers' release. It ruled out their freedom was "mere coincidence at this juncture and at the forefront of crucial parliamentary elections in Lebanon as well as weeks ahead of a visit of U.S. envoys to Syria."