Now Lebanon - Ad-Diyar: Aoun decides to ‘start a war’ over Karam detention, September 6, 2010

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun has decided to “start a war” with everyone whom he believes is violating the law in the detention of FPM official and retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam, Ad-Diyar newspaper quoted an anonymous FPM source as saying on Monday.

This battle includes the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Information Branch, relevant ministries and President Michel Sleiman, the source said, adding that Aoun wants Sleiman to intervene.

In a speech Sunday, Aoun said that the Information Branch is an “illegitimate branch that has no law,” “kidnaps people for months,” and “spreads rumors about people.”

Aoun questioned whether Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar, Information Tarek Mitri, and Defense Minister Elias al-Murr are “sleeping” while rumors leak from the Karam investigation, adding that resignations are needed.

Karam was arrested in early August on charges of spying for Israel.

“More and more, and especially after talking with Karam’s lawyers, Aoun is beginning to think that the criteria of collaboration with the enemy do not apply to [Karam’s] file,” Ad-Diyar’s source added.

“Why does the Information Branch still refuse to give Karam’s lawyers the photo that was allegedly taken of him meeting with Israelis in Paris?” the source asked.

The source also criticized the continuation of this “exhausting investigation” with Karam in spite of his poor health.

The Ad-Diyar report also quoted another anonymous political source expressing disapproval that Aoun had attacked Christian ministers and the president while ignoring the “poor conduct of some ministers from his bloc.”

This source added that “Interior Minister [Ziad Baroud] has more than once explained the origins of [the Information] Branch in detail to the media.”