Lebanese exile blames Syria for blast

Lebanon’s most prominent exile, former army commander Gen Michel Aoun, said today he suspects Syria was behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The Syrians “totally control the country”, Aoun said on France-Info radio. “Nothing moves without it being controlled by the Syrians.”

Syria has denied any role and condemned yesterday’s assassination.

Though Hariri publicly tried to avoid offending Damascus, his pro-Syrian opponents accused him of being the driving force behind the US-backed UN Security Council resolution in September that demanded Syria withdraw its army from Lebanon.

Aoun said Hariri’s killing was a challenge to the international community and he asked for help from the United Nations “because the Syrians can repeat their crimes”.

“Each time that we wanted to get the Syrians out, there was a series of attacks that targeted Lebanese people who opposed Syria,” Aoun said.

He said parliamentary elections that had been expected in April and May should be delayed as long as Syria has not withdrawn.