Amid massive general mourning, Lebanon eulogizes assassinated judges
Lebanon, Local, 6/10/1999

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has awarded the four judges who were assassinated in the justice palace in Sidon with appreciation orders of merit.

President Lahoud awarded the chairman of the criminal court, Judge Hassan Othman, the Cedar award of commodore rank. The Lebanese president also awarded the three judges Asem Bu Daher, Walid Harmoush and Imad Shehab the Cedar award of officer rank.

The Lebanese president accused sides that he did not identify of being behind the crime.

Upon presiding over a night meeting of the Lebanese cabinet, which was dedicated to discussing the crime, the Lebanese president said that information so far available indicates the involvement of sides aiming at serving "enemies of the homeland." He announced that this crime will be submitted to the judicial council, stressing that "the hand of justice" will have the criminals arrested, wherever they are and very soon.

The Lebanese president expressed his personal condolences to the families of the victims, together with those of the Lebanese Cabinet and people who maintain full solidarity with Lebanese justice.

Meanhwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss continued his contacts with sides concerned in the Sidon justice palace crime. He gave instructions to reveal the secrets of this ugly crime.

The Lebanese military court detained the security men who were guarding the justice palace in Sidon when the crime took place, a situation which made the crime much easier.

However, unofficial sources said there were four criminals, not two, and that two of them opened fire on the judges while the two others were waiting for them in a VW V 730 car which was parked on the coastal road behind the justice palace.

The body of judge Hassan Othman, the first president for the criminal court in south Lebanon and judge Asem Abu Daher were taken to their town in al- Zaroureyah. The body of judge Walid Harmoush was taken to his town in al-Shouf district and the body of judge Imad al-Shehab to his town in Hasbaya inside the occupied part of south Lebanon, via Kafer Tabnet crossing in an International Red Cross vehicle.

A comprehensive general strike was observed in South Lebanon on Wednesday in denunciation of the crime. State-run and private schools, as well as trade and industrial establishments were closed down. Similar national mourning was observed in all Lebanon over the crime.

Previous Stories:
  On Sidon's court shootings   (6/9/1999)
  Five persons killed in an attack on the hall of justice in Sidon   (6/9/1999)
  New Fatah official wounded in Lebanon   (5/22/1999)

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