BEIRUT: The Internal Security Forces responded Wednesday to news reports that a leading intelligence officer had traveled to Egypt to meet with Zuheir Siddiq, a former witness in the investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The head of the ISF, Gen. Ashraf Rifi, said Wednesday that Col. Wissam Hassan left Monday aboard an Egypt Airlines flight on an official visit to meet the newly-appointed Egyptian head of Intelligence, Mourad Mouwafi.
“Hassan returned to Beirut on Tuesday on board a private plane rented from Open Sky Company,” said Rifi, responding to a report by Al-Jadeed Television about Hassan’s trip to Egypt.
Rifi said the visit covered a discussion of bilateral security issues.
“The aim of the visit was to become familiar with and discuss bilateral security issues in light of the recent developments in Egypt,” Rifi added.
In January, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down following 18 days of unrest and mass demonstrations in Cairo and other major cities across the country.
Rifi called on Al-Jadeed to air his statement on its news broadcast in line with media regulations that allow the right of response.
“The Directorate General hopes that all media outlets closely monitor the information they receive before they publish it,” said Rifi.
Earlier Wednesday, Gen. Rifi visited the caretaker Interior Minister, Ziyad Baroud, during which Baroud asked Rifi to take “suitable measures and steps” with regard to travel by an ISF officer, presumably Hassan, to other countries.
Baroud told Rifi that such measures would clarify the extent to which various regulations and laws were being respected.– The Daily Star
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