25 bodies unearthed near former Syrian spy base

Lebanese security troops have removed the remains of 25 bodies from a mass grave in the eastern Bekaa Valley town of Anjar, near the former headquarters of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon, security officials said today.

At least one of the bodies belonged to a Lebanese soldier, identified as such by his uniform. The bodies were found by local people.

The remains, including bones, teeth and skulls, were taken from the mass grave on the Nabi Azir hilltop position formerly occupied by Syrian soldiers, just over half-a-mile from the former headquarters of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon.

The Anjar headquarters was notorious for its treatment of prisoners and there were allegations of torture.

Security troops barred journalists from approaching the grave site today, only allowing photographers to take pictures of them refilling the earth pit after their work was done.

But journalists saw security troops collecting the remains in at least 12 black bags. The remains were taken away for DNA testing, said the officials.

The identities of the bodies was not immediately clear.

One security official said they appeared to have been killed in October 1990 during the Syrian military offensive that defeated Christian-commanded units of the Lebanese army under Michel Aoun, who was interim prime minister at the time, removing the last holdout against Syrian dominance of Lebanon.

Syria was the main power broker in Lebanon until early this year, when public sentiment turned against the country after the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, for which many blamed Damascus.

Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in April after a 29-year military presence.

The Anjar headquarters was vacated on April 25 as the pillars of Syria’s domination of Lebanon crumbled.

Syria denies it had anything to do with Hariri’s assassination, but a UN probe into the killing has implicated top Syrian officials.