Syrian's Death Spurs Speculation - Los Angeles Times: "The death occurred before the planned Oct. 25 release of the U.N. report on the slaying of Hariri. The Feb. 14 assassination triggered a political backlash that forced Syrian troops to abandon Lebanon in April, ending 29 years of domination.
As chief of Syria's military intelligence in Beirut from 1982 to 2002, Kenaan symbolized Damascus' power over its neighbor. He and his predecessor were among a handful of Syrian officials interviewed three weeks ago by Detlev Mehlis, the German prosecutor heading the U.N. inquiry. Despite speculation that Mehlis will implicate Syrian officials, the prosecutor has said that Kenaan and others were interviewed as witnesses.
About an hour before he died Wednesday, Kenaan went on the Voice of Lebanon radio station to rebuff allegations made by a Lebanese television station that he had been enmeshed in large-scale corruption and bribery during his tenure in the country. He closed the interview by saying, 'I think it will be the last statement I make.'
Suspicion persisted Thursday that Kenaan was slain, perhaps to set him up as the main fall guy for Hariri's killing.
Haithem Maleh, a prominent human rights lawyer and activist, said that he did not interpret Kenaan's words as evidence of suicidal motivation.
'I don't think it meant that he would kill himself,' said Maleh, a 74-year-old former judge. 'Why not murder? This regime has a history of it. But the question remains, if he killed himself, why did he, and if he was killed, why?
'Ghazi Kenaan was a strong man. He was the emperor of Lebanon,' Maleh added. Syrian state television reported his death 'as if just anyone was killed. They didn't even interrupt their programming or alter it. I think there is something between him and the regime.'
The U.N. had no additional comment Thursday on Kenaan's death. Mehlis will return to Vienna from Beirut shortly to finish his report, a U.N. spokesman said.
He added that any change in Mehlis' mission, such as expanding the investigation to include Kenaan's death, would have to be approved by the U.N. Security Council."
As chief of Syria's military intelligence in Beirut from 1982 to 2002, Kenaan symbolized Damascus' power over its neighbor. He and his predecessor were among a handful of Syrian officials interviewed three weeks ago by Detlev Mehlis, the German prosecutor heading the U.N. inquiry. Despite speculation that Mehlis will implicate Syrian officials, the prosecutor has said that Kenaan and others were interviewed as witnesses.
About an hour before he died Wednesday, Kenaan went on the Voice of Lebanon radio station to rebuff allegations made by a Lebanese television station that he had been enmeshed in large-scale corruption and bribery during his tenure in the country. He closed the interview by saying, 'I think it will be the last statement I make.'
Suspicion persisted Thursday that Kenaan was slain, perhaps to set him up as the main fall guy for Hariri's killing.
Haithem Maleh, a prominent human rights lawyer and activist, said that he did not interpret Kenaan's words as evidence of suicidal motivation.
'I don't think it meant that he would kill himself,' said Maleh, a 74-year-old former judge. 'Why not murder? This regime has a history of it. But the question remains, if he killed himself, why did he, and if he was killed, why?
'Ghazi Kenaan was a strong man. He was the emperor of Lebanon,' Maleh added. Syrian state television reported his death 'as if just anyone was killed. They didn't even interrupt their programming or alter it. I think there is something between him and the regime.'
The U.N. had no additional comment Thursday on Kenaan's death. Mehlis will return to Vienna from Beirut shortly to finish his report, a U.N. spokesman said.
He added that any change in Mehlis' mission, such as expanding the investigation to include Kenaan's death, would have to be approved by the U.N. Security Council."
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