A Lebanese judge charged a former Syrian intelligence officer accused of lying to UN investigators with involvement in the assassination of former Leb
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Lebanese judge charged a former Syrian intelligence officer accused of lying to UN investigators with involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, judicial officials said Tuesday.
Magistrate Elias Eid accused Zuhair Mohammed Al-Siddiq, who was arrested by French police Monday, of giving false testimony to investigators and misleading the UN investigation into the Feb. 14 killing of Hariri, plus having an indirect role in the massive Beirut bomb blast that killed the former premier and 20 others.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give official statements, said they had asked for Al-Siddiq, 45, to be extradited and were awaiting a French response.
Eid added the charge of complicity in Hariri's murder Tuesday based on material provided by UN investigators heading the probe, the officials said.
Arab media has for weeks billed Al-Siddiq as being a leading witness in the Hariri probe. There was no mention of any charges against him until few days ago, after it became clear he was not credible.