Now Lebanon - Ogassapian: Sayyed’s reception is a desecration of the airport - September 19, 2010

Minister of State Jean Ogassapian told Future News television on Sunday that the March 8 coalition, particularly Hezbollah’s, reception of former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed in Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport was a “desecration of the airport.”

Hezbollah issued a statement on Friday that Attorney General Judge Said Mirza’s request to summon Sayyed was “political par excellence” and called on the judiciary to revoke its decision.

In a press conference last week, Sayyed warned Hariri to “give me my right, [or] I swear on my honor that I [will] take it with my own hands.” He also called on the people to “revolt against authority and attack officials in their houses.”

Sayyed was detained from 2005 to 2009 on suspicion of involvement in the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. In April 2009, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) ordered his release due to lack of evidence.

“Does Hezbollah think that it is sending a message to [foreign countries] in order to affect the STL and [prevent] its indictment?” Ogassapian asked.

Ogassapian also said that there is neither a regional nor an Arab decision to change the government, and called for resolving issues within the state institutions.

-NOW Lebanon