Lebanese foreign ministry gets the passport of Mousa al-Sader
Lebanon-Libya, Politics, 10/20/2004

The Lebanese foreign ministry announced it has received a diplomatic passport carrying the name of the Lebanese Shiite leader Imam Mousa al-Sader who disappeared in 1978.

The passport was issued in Beirut on 1/4/1978 and it was valid until 3/1/ 1979.

The Lebanese foreign ministry also received an ordinary passport carrying the name of Muhammad Shahadeh Yaqoub. One of Imam al-Sader escorts upon his disappearance in 1978, issued in Beirut on 11/3/1977 and valid for three years.

News reports said that the Lebanese foreign ministry got the two passports via the Lebanese embassy in Italy and they were conveyed by the chairman of Rome court Lueiji Scots on September 30, as the two passports were found during a criminal trial of unidentified persons under the charge of falsifying the character of Imam al-Sader himself.

This is, however, the first time in which it is indicated to Imam al-Sader passport and his aide Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoub who disappeared with journalist Abbas Bader Eddine following a visit to Libya.

It is revealed from the papers of the passport that its bearers got the Italian visa and another French one in Tripoli, Libya on 31 August, 1978 and left Libya in the same date via the airport of Tripoli.

Both the Amal movement and Hizbullah accuse the Libyan regime of being behind the disappearance of the three men. However, Tripoli denied that it has links to their disappearance and confirms that they headed on August 31, 1978 to Lebanon after their stay in Libya. Libya responded to these accusations by severing diplomatic relations with Lebanon in 2003.

On August 2nd, the Lebanese republic attorney general ordered re-opening the file and inquire all persons involved in it including the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi. After that Libya stressed it is concerned with the question of the disappearance of Imam al-Sader and it will work on unmasking sides behind their disappearance.

Previous Stories:
  Libya will not be silent about the incident of Imam Sadr   (8/30/2004)
  Lebanon reinvestigates the case of Imam al-Sader disappearance   (8/3/2004)
  Libya seeks to settle al-Sader issue   (3/23/2004)

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