BEIRUT The United Nations commission investigating the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister has asked to interview President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, both of Syria, the commission's spokesperson said Monday.
"The commission will also seek to interview Abdul Halim Khaddam as soon as possible," Nasra Hassan, the spokeswoman, said. Khaddam, a former Syrian official, said in a television broadcast Friday that Assad had threatened the former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, several months before he was assassinated in a truck bombing on Feb. 14.
The commission, whose mandate was recently renewed by the UN Security Council for six months, has reported that several people whom Hariri spoke to after he met Assad in August 2004 said the Syrian leader had threatened Hariri over the issue of Syrian plans to extend the term of Lebanon's president.
Syrian officials, such as Sharaa, have denied that any threat was made. Khaddam was the architect of Syria's military and political domination of neighboring Lebanon, but eventually broke with the Assad regime.
"I will destroy anyone who tries to hinder our decisions," Khaddam quoted Assad as telling Hariri during a meeting in Damascus.
I like that last quote - I think I'll try to use it in casual conversation:
"Hey man, let's order pizza from Domino's now - after we go to the beer store."
"No, let's order it from Pizza Pizza - it is better pizza, plus I will destroy anyone who tries to hinder my decision."
"Uhmm... well, okay sure. Let's get it from Pizza Pizza then... sheeeesh."