Syria denies promotion of Maj. Maher al-Assad
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 7/5/2000

A well-informed Syrian source told the Lebanese daily al- Safir on Tuesday that press reports which spoke about promotion of Maj. Eng. Maher al-Assad ( brother of Bashar al-Assad) to a colonel or to a higher military grade is "groundless."

The source stressed that the periodical list which includes several names of promoted or sacked military figures did not include the name of Maher al-Assad, adding that no special decree was issued by the commander general of the army and armed forces to this effect.

The Syrian source added that the list which is published twice a year ( one every six month) is a " comprehensive and regulatory list for all military promotion and that every promotion outside it should be only made through special decision."

Earlier Arab media sources said that Maj. Eng. Maher al-Assad was promoted to a colonel, adding that similar wrong media sources said that col. Munaf Tlass was also promoted to a Maj. Gen.. Observers say that this false news reports on the promotion of both Maher and Munaf are because of the fact that both of them were elected as members of the central committee of the Baath Party at the 9th regional congress, a matter which was considered by some sides as an indicator for promoting them in the army.

The Syrian source also added that information talked about sacking the chairman of Palestine branch of the Syrian military intelligence Lt.Gen. Mustafa al-Tajer " also not correct" as al-Tajer is still assuming his post. The source said " it is not the culture of the ministry of defense to pay attention to media statements as such." The source added " general speaking the list does not include remarkable surprises" except promotion of several army Maj. gen. to Lt. Generals. They were 13.

Previous Stories:
  Promotions in the Syrian army   (7/3/2000)
  Syria's foreign minister discusses developments with Lebanese, Iranian counterparts   (6/19/2000)
  Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad confers with commander of the Lebanese army   (6/13/2000)

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