By Hadi Khatib
Lebanonwire staff

The developing story of Zouhair Al-Siddiq, the Syrian held by French authorities in connection with the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri has caught the attention of the international media and raised concerns about French-Lebanese relations, daily Ad-Diyar, who broke the news of AL-Siddiq’s release Sunday, reported Monday.

The daily said that the French court in Versailles had created a controversy by deciding to release Al-Siddiq when UN Security Resolution 1559 specifically required that all witnesses connected with the Hariri murder should remain in custody until a future international court would question and prosecute those who plotted and executed the murder.Depending on who you ask, Al-Siddiq is either a simple Syrian Army deserter or a high ranking officer in the Syrian intelligence.

Ad-Diyar said that a crisis is now developing between Lebanon and France with Lebanese public opinion wondering about French President Jacques Chirac’s silence on an issue of this scale. The daily added that European print and visual media began debating the reasons behind the release of a dangerous witness such as Al-Siddiq, at a time when Serge Brammertz, the new head of the UN probe into the slaying of Lebanon's ex-prime minister Rafiq Hariri, is taking a fresh new approach to the case. The daily said that European media is beginning to question the cloak and dagger surrounding the prosecution of Al-Siddiq, with French legal authorities refusing to announce court dates leading to the surprise announcement of its findings and subsequent decision to release the suspect. It added that French parliamentarians might be prompted into questioning their government about the issue.

The daily quoted sources from France as saying that French authorities had no objections to Lebanon releasing the four officers (with whom Al-Siddiq had allegedly conspired to kill Hariri) detained in the same case and does not want to interfere in Lebanon’s domestic legal issues. The daily added, “the danger also lies in the international community’s (UN Security Council) silence over the subject release.”

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBCi) reported on Sunday it had inside information that Al-Siddiq is still in custody despite the court’s decision to release him and that the next 24 hours should reveal more concrete official announcements from French authorities. LBC quoted its special sources as saying that Lebanese authorities had asked their French counterparts to either keep Al-Siddiq imprisoned or to take special precautions that he would not escape from the “firm” grip of the international court’s since he is considered as a “prime” witness.

Ad-Diyar went on to say that Baabda sources are also wondering about the timing of the release and the responsibility of Chirac in the affair. Meanwhile An Nahar daily reported today that a high ranking official told Agence France Press that Lebanon has yet to receive official confirmation of Al-Siddiq’s release. The daily also said it has information saying that Al-Siddiq has yet to be released.

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