September 17, 2009 - Naharnet - Sayyed: Hariri Must Be More Careful of Close Aides

Brig. Gen. Jamil Sayyed said Thursday that PM-designate Saad Hariri must be more careful of close aides in view of recent statements made by Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare. Hariri "must be more conscientious about holding those close to him responsible if Bellemare was forced to respond to them," Sayyed said in a statement issued Thursday. Sayyed, and three other top Lebanese generals, were released in April after nearly four years in captivity without charges over the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri following a ruling to that effect by the STL. Sayyed was responding to remarks recently made by Bellemare in which he said that the "one who committed these crimes is a professional group that hides facts skillfully." Bellemare said the four generals could be summoned to court if evidence was found against them in the Hariri murder case. "We will knock on their doors if we have evidence against them," Bellemare had said, adding that the generals haven't been prosecuted in order to be found innocent. They were released because we don't have enough evidence against them to keep them in prison."