Hamadeh Blames Lebanese Authorities for Attempt to Assassinate Him

Resigning Economy Minister Marwan Hamadeh has squarely held Lebanon's security departments and judicial authorities responsible for the car-bombing assassination attack that he survived but claimed the life of his official escort, doubting that their ongoing investigation would produce results. "The record of investigation into similar crimes in the past is uninspiring and has constituted an indictment of the authorities supposedly responsible for our security as Lebanese citizens," Hamadeh said in the first statement he issued from his AUH sickbed since the attempted assassination six days ago. He was obviously referring to the chain of unproductive probes into the assassination of such towering Lebanese figures as President Rene Mouawad in 1989, President-Elect Bashir Gemayel in 1982 and Prime Minister Rashid Karami in 1987, among others. Hamadeh, 65, made this vow as a member of parliament and of Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front and member of the Higher Council of the Lebanese Press: "I shall work in my last remaining days to uncover all aspects of this crime that targeted all citizens and political representatives of the Lebanese people, and which has taken the life of a young hero." Hamadeh expressed his horror over the dispatch of the shredded brain, teeth and tongue remains of slain escort Sgt. Ghazi Bou Karroum in an official envelop of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces (ISF) addressed to his brother, wife and three children. "From my hospital bed I want to express my profound amazement and burning wrath over the last chapter of the crime-playact that claimed the life of my dear comrade, martyr Ghazi Bou Karroum, which constituted an affront to our dignity and a gross violation of the penal code and human rights," Hamadeh said. The Beirut media said Wednesday Hamadeh is expected to be discharged from the American University Hospital on Thursday or Friday.

Beirut, Updated 06 Oct 04, 09:47