Lebanon Declares State of Emergency Over Hariri Report
Troops deployed in Lebanon cities (BBC)
Lebanese troops have been deployed in the capital and other key cities a day before the release of a UN report into the killing of former PM Rafik Hariri. Armoured vehicles and soldiers have been patrolling Beirut, in what the interior minister described as an unofficial state of emergency.
A UN team has been investigating the assassination of Mr Hariri in a devastating bombing in February. Many in Lebanon blamed Syria, which is something Damascus denied repeatedly. UN chief Kofi Annan is to receive the report on Thursday. The UN Security Council will see the report on Friday and be briefed on 25 October by the team’s leader, German magistrate Detlev Mehlis.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that while he did not know what was in the report, Thursday’s measures had been taken in case it revealed who was behind the murder.
A prudent move, indeed.
via Scott Koenig
