Hubeiqa killed by booby trapped car. Lebanon: the crime carried Israeli prints
Lebanon, Local, 1/25/2002

President Emil Lahoud of Lebanon has condemned the assassination of former Lebanese minister and member of parliament Eli Hubeiqa and considered this act as a multi purpose crime whose executors wanted to undermine the internal security Lebanese has been enjoying since 11 years as well as to occupy the Arab and world public opinion away from the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians as well as to preventing the late Hubeiqa from giving his testimony before the court in Belgium on Sharon's trial over his direct responsibility for the Sabra and Shatilla massacres in Lebanon in 1982.

In a statement released by the Lebanese Presidential palace on Thursday, the Lebanese President said that these multipurpose objectives will not be attained especially in connection to the internal situation which will not be affected by such crime. The statement added, thanks to the unity among the Lebanese people great parts of the Western Bekaa and south Lebanon were liberated, besides the Lebanese will not permit things to be as used to be in the past.

For his part, the Lebanese minister of the Interior Elias al-Murr said that so far information available indicate that Israel and its hirelings are behind the assassination of minister Hubeiqa. After he presided over on Thursday an emergency meeting of the Lebanese central security council, minister al-Murr said this act is of a clear title in that Israeli and its hirelings are behind this terrorist act.

He indicated that comprehensive security measures will be taken in all Lebanese areas in order to ensure the safety of citizens and that the file of the assassination act was put under the supervision of the attorney general court to start investigation on this matter.

The Lebanese minister added that the issue of security coordination among the Arab states will be on the agenda of the Arab ministers of the interior meeting to be held in Beirut on Sunday in addition to the question of terrorism.

He stressed that security in Lebanon is stable and there is no security fears over this country. Minister al-Murr considered that the assassination of Hubeiqa is more than one message addressed to Lebanon and to the Arab states and that " we are aware of this fact."

Meantime, several Lebanese political and party activists and figures held Israel responsible for the assassination of Hubeiqa and denounced this crime which aims at destabilizing Lebanon.

In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, the Hizbullah party said that the assassination of Hubeiqa at this time particularly is an Israeli factor to express Israel's annoyed over the Lebanese solidarity and to eliminate the diplomatic and political achievements Lebanon has realized.

The Lebanese al-Kata'ib ( Fanalagists ) party condemned the assassination of Hubeiqa as a message meant to destabilize the country and called on the Lebanese state to arrest the criminal and bring them before the justice.

Meantime the Belgian Senator Jose Dweibi, member of the Belgian parliamentary delegation quoted minister Hubeiqa who had met with the delegation secretly just two days before his assassination that he had felt he is endangered because of the information he has. Information which he will tell about concerning the Sabra and Shatilla massacres. The Belgian Senator added that Hubeiqa stressed to the Belgian delegation that he has the evidence for his innocence from these massacres.

On the other hand, the Lebanese minister of the Interior inspected the site of the explosion and supervised the process of rescuing the wounded. Also the Lebanese government commissioner at the military court judge Nasri Lahoud inspected the site of the explosion and said in a statement that Israel stands behind this act, noting that this operation is not the beginning of war, rather targeting Hubeiqa in person.

Hubeiqa was killed because of an explosion in his car as he left his house in al-Hazemeyeh area in Beirut. Press sources at the site said the explosion was very big and had greatly damaged the adjoining buildings and the parked cars.

The sources indicated that Hubeiqa was in his car with his friends who had with them diving cylinders a matter which increased the activity of the explosion.

However, the number of the victims tolled 6 including minister Hubeiqa and 4 of his escorts and one passing by citizen, while ten persons were reported to be wounded.

Lebanese security sources said that the explosion resulted in detonating a booby trapped Mercedes car and the explosive is 50 kg weight. The Lebanese police and judiciary are holding investigations to disclose the implications of this incident.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese government hands over a Kuwaiti to the American authorities   (1/11/2002)
  Lebanese judiciary sentences to death Lahd and other five Lahd hirelings   (1/3/2002)
  Lebanon strongly denies President Lahoud's assassination attempt   (1/1/2002)
  Secret documents reveal Sharon's confession having responsibility for Sabra, Shatila massacres   (12/28/2001)
  New evidence on Sharon massacres submitted to Belgium court   (12/3/2001)
  Belgium prosecutor defends case against Sharon   (11/30/2001)
  Israeli university teachers sign petition against honorary diploma to Ariel Sharon   (11/21/2001)
  Turkish journalists, writers call for arrestingm trying Sharon upon arriving in Ankara   (8/7/2001)
  Eli Hubeiqa is ready to appear before the Belgian judiciary   (7/6/2001)
  US Human rights group urges criminal probe against Sharon   (6/24/2001)
  Sharon: I regretted Sabra and Shatila massacres, but I was not responsible for them   (1/12/2001)
  Is Israel a pariah nation?   (3/17/1998)
  Sharon: a bulldozer without an engine   (11/5/1997)

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