Jamil Sayyed Resigns under Opposition Fire As Surete Generale Chief

Brig. Gen. Jamil Sayyed resigned his post as chief of the General Security Department Monday, bowing to pressure from Lebanon's opposition that commanders of the nation's main security forces be ousted for failing to shield ex-Premier Hariri's assassination. The pro-Syrian Sayyed cited the 'changing climate' after Syria's evacuation of Lebanon as the main motive for him to quit and said in a statement the resignation superseded his request last week for suspension during the international reinvestigation of Hariri's murder, leaving the impression he would claim the job back after the probe. The resignation came hard on the heels of an announcement by Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa that he would soon propose full-fledged replacements for Sayyed and Internal Security Forces commander Ali Hajj to make their removal from their jobs permanent. "I will submit the proposal at the first meeting of the cabinet after winning a vote of confidence from Parliament and ask for an urgent endorsement," said Sabaa, formerly a senior officer of the Surete Generale who resigned in 1999 in protest against the appointment of Sayyed, his junior in rank, as his superior. Mikati had earlier met at the Grand Serail with army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman. Their talks were believed to have focused on the fate of other security commanders under the army's jurisdiction, mainly the commander of the presidential brigade Brig. Mustafa Hamdan, a protégé of President Lahoud.