http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=11243
Exiled Christian Lebanese warlord returns ISN SECURITY WATCH (09/05/05) - A jubilant crowd in Beirut's Martyrs Square welcomed home anti-Syrian army commander General Michel Aoun on Saturday after 14 years in exile in France, though some observers believe his return could signal a split in the opposition ahead of elections later this month. Aoun, a Lebanese army general turned politician, was a key-player in the 1976-1990 civil war, heading the Free Patriotic Movement - a Christian militant outfit opposed to Syrian influence in Lebanese internal affairs. General Aoun served as Lebanon's prime minister in 1988, overstaying his mandate and enraging the Lebanese Muslim community, as the prime minister's role in Lebanon is traditionally reserved for a Sunni Muslim. Aoun was defeated at the polls in 1989 by current President Emile Lahoud, with help from Syrian factions, and driven out of the country. Lahoud, also a former army general, has strongly opposed his rival's return. Aoun returned to Lebanon after charges that he had endangered state security, national unity, and the country's constitution were dropped earlier last week. The general was charged in 1990. On Wednesday, a court dismissed the charges against him in accordance with an amnesty covering crimes committed during Lebanon's 15-year civil war. Syria had long excluded Aoun from the amnesty, and many Maronite Christians in Lebanon considered his prolonged exile as a symbol of the persecution of Christians' rights during the Syrian occupation. On 26 April, Syria completed its withdrawal of military and intelligence forces from Lebanon, where they had been stationed for 29 years. Aoun's supporters have been emboldened by the weeks of mass protests that followed the 14 February assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. There are fears, however, that Aoun's political return may cause a split in the opposition camp, which now reflects a loose coalition of Druze, Sunni, and Christian parties that are primarily united by their anti-Syrian stance. Maronite Christian legislators have also recently intensified their efforts to free Samir Geagea, leader of the disbanded Lebanese Forces - a militant group heavily involved in the factional strife that affected Lebanon for over two decades. Geagea has been held in solitary confinement in a Defense Ministry prison for the last 11 years. (By Claudio Franco in Beirut) ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn. Bring education to life by funding a specific classroom project. http://us.click.yahoo.com/FHLuJD/_WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
