Naharnet - Lebanese Shoots and Wounds Siddiq in Germany, Report - October 26, 2010

The so-called key witness in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri Zuheir Siddiq was reportedly shot and wounded in Germany.

The website "Beirut Observer" on Tuesday quoted sources as saying Siddiq survived an assassination attempt a "few days ago." It said Siddiq was hit by three bullets and was taken to hospital in "critical condition." The website said authorities identified one of the assailants as a resident from southern Lebanon. The report could not be independently verified. Two weeks ago, Siddiq had revealed to New TV that he had entered the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's witness protection program. He also said that he had contacted the international investigation with the assistance of Syria's military intelligence chief Ghazi Kanaan, who had committed suicide in Syria in 2005 under mysterious circumstances. Last week, Naharnet had asked the court's registrar from the international court's headquarters in the Hague if the tribunal's witness protection program had begun operation, but the official refused to answer the question.