Now Lebanon - Jarrah criticizes Hezbollah’s reaction to summoning of Sayyed - September 17, 2010

Lebanon First bloc MP Jamal al-Jarrah told LBCI television on Friday that Hezbollah’s reaction to Attorney General Judge Said Mirza’s request to summon former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed over the latter’s Sunday press conference reflects the atmosphere that prevailed during the May 7 events.

Gunmen supporting a Hezbollah-led alliance clashed with Druze and Sunni supporters of a rival alliance, killing 100 people in the week-long battle in 2008, also known as the May 7 events.

“[Hezbollah] seems to be threatening and making it look like the Lebanese judiciary is not allowed to take any measure against figures who attack it,” Jarrah said.

Hezbollah issued a statement on Friday saying that Mirza’s request to summon Sayyed was “political par excellence,” calling for revoking the judiciary's decision.

Sayyed said on Sunday that “[Prime Minister Saad Hariri] should take a lie detector test to prove he did not support or fund false witnesses in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL),” investigating the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, and vowed to take his right “with his own hands.”

Sayyed was detained from 2005 to 2009 on suspicion of involvement in the Rafik Hariri murder. In April 2009, the STL ordered his release due to lack of evidence.