Lebanon closes the military line with Syria
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 12/19/2005

The Lebanese authorities said it will close indefinitely the military road line between Lebanon and Syria which was used in the past to transport officials and senior figures between the two states prior to the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.

One Lebanese security official said that the line which is in parallel with the civilian line was closed on Saturday evening, announcing that an official statement will be issued later to this effect.

He explained that this road line had been abandoned since October, but it was still open to military men and officials in missions, stressing that even ministers and parliamentarians no longer used this line and demanded those who want to head for Syria to pass through the official borders.

The military line at al-Masnaa border point to the east of Lebanon used to permit passersby through it to cross without being subjected to official measures pertinent to the car or its occupants by using special military licensing that allows military men and senior officials from the two states to move between borders.

Lebanese parliamentarians in the parliamentary majority after the assassination of Jubran Tweini strongly criticized this line which they said it facilitates the passage of booby trapped cars or the executors of explosions in Lebanon.

By closing this line, the last forms of the Syrian presence in Lebanon would be ended, after the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from this country in April this year.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese president keen for best ties with Syria   (12/15/2005)
  Reactions on Tweini assassination calling for truth   (12/15/2005)
  Syrian security forces clash with gunmen near Lebanese borders   (8/23/2005)
  Lebanese transport minister inspects border operations with Syria   (8/19/2005)
  Syria denies crisis on borders with Lebanon   (8/17/2005)
  Dabbousieh Syria-Lebanon border crossing point ordinary traffic   (7/18/2005)
  Syrian forces withdrawal from Lebanon complete   (4/27/2005)

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