December 9, 2009 - Naharnet - Syria to Go Ahead and Summon Lebanese Officials over Sayyed Case

Syria will not withdraw summons it has issued against a number of Lebanese political and security officials over a lawsuit filed by former head of Lebanese General Security Jamil Sayyed, insisting on separating the judiciary from politics.
Local media on Tuesday said the issue was being dealt at the "highest level" as Syria was considering revoking the warrants which included officials like former ministers Marawan Hamadeh, Charles Rizk and Hasan al-Sabaa as well as ex-MP Elias Atallah, State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza and magistrates Saqr Saqr and Elias Eid, in addition to former head of Lebanon's military intelligence Johnny Abdo.

The Lebanese officials were summoned on Monday to appear before a Syrian court for a lawsuit filed against them by Maj. Gen. Sayyed accusing them of slander, depriving him of his freedom and falsifying witnesses in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

A statement by Sayyed's office denied Syria has withdrawn the summons, saying State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza received the orders Nov. 26 after they had been submitted by the Syrian judiciary in line with judicial protocol between Syria and Lebanon.
The statement said the orders are still active because the lawsuit filed by Sayyed was "personal, not political."
"Therefore, only Sayyed has the right to withdraw the case or transfer it to the International Criminal Court," added the statement.