Al Seyassah, an independent Kuwaiti newspaper, reported on August 31 that: “Syrian President Bashar Assad will not travel to New York to take part in the international summit which will be held September 14-16 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Sources close to Assad mentioned that the Syrian President is afraid of facing unwanted international consequences if he leaves Damascus.”

Al Seyassah continued: “In the same context, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Assad’s strongest ally in Lebanon, will not go to New York for the same reasons, which [some suggest could] lead to his arrest.” The sources also told the Kuwaiti daily that the Lebanese suspects in connection with the Hariri bombing might give the authorities information dealing with all aspects of the murder in order to save themselves. They will, according to Al Seyassah’s sources, claim that they were involved in the crime because of orders they could not reject. “So, President Lahoud is beginning to feel Mehlis’ heat.”

The sources also told Al Seyassah that the head of the Lebanese National Guard Mostapha Hamdan, who was arrested yesterday, headed to the Rafik Hariri Beirut Airport two days ago with four generals, on their way to New York. In the airport, Hamdan showed his American green card. An airport security employee held Hamdan up, then told him that he was not allowed to travel. Hamdan then angrily reminded the employee of his military position. The employee then apologized to Hamdan, saying that the decision not to allow him to travel was made by Mehlis’ committee, and that Lebanon is bound by a security cooperation protocol with the committee. - Al Seyassah, Kuwait

Source: www.mideastwire.com