BEIRUT, Aug 21, (CWNews.com) - Lebanon's army on Tuesday released 75 Christians arrested earlier this month for protesting Syria's influence on the country, but charged a political activist and a journalist with a capital crime.
More than 200 people were arrested by the army following protests against the presence of thousands of Syrian troops in Lebanon and the neighboring country's controlling influence over Beirut's politics and economy.
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has expressed dismay that he had received no prior notification of the crackdown. The crackdown widened a rift between President Emile Lahoud, a Maronite Christian strongly allied to Syria, and the government of Sunni Muslim Hariri, who accused Lahoud of acting without informing the cabinet or getting its consent.
Meanwhile, Lahoud had met with Maronite Catholic Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, an longtime critic of Syria who has condemned the arrests. In Damascus, Syrian President Bashar Assad met the political leader of Lebanon's Druze community, Walid Jumblatt. Jumblatt has also criticized the military crackdown.
The release of the 75 detainees followed international criticism of the action, including a stern rebuke from Pope John Paul II over the weekend.
Those still held include those alleged to be connected with the case of senior Lebanese Forces (LF) militia member Tawfik al-Hindi who the army says is in league with Israel. The LF is comprised mainly of Christians and is opposed to Syria's domination of Lebanon.
Military prosecutors have formally charged Hindi and journalist Antoine Bassil with conspiring with Israel against Lebanon and Syria, and on Tuesday said senior LF member Ghassan Touma was charged with the same offenses. Two others have been charged with failing to inform on them.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
21. august 2001