Giselle Demands French Role in Investigating Samir's Murder
Police investigators were split Friday over the method with which Samir Kassir was assassinated the day before as his widow, prominent media star Giselle Khoury, demanded an in-depth investigation with France's participation to bring the assassins to justice.
Two theories have been advanced by police: 1-an explosive charge was rigged into Kassir's car engine that went off as he turned on the ignition, 2-a bomb was planted under the driver's seat and was detonated by remote control. There were also varying estimates of the deadly charge, ranging from 5 to 7.5 kilograms.
Investigators found no clue yet as to the identity or motive of the killers. They are still examining the car wreckage for possible latent fingerprints or any other traces that could help the probe.
Spokesmen for various opposition groups, however, have squarely blamed the crime on Syrian intelligence operatives left behind after the April evacuation along with Lebanese affiliates from President Lahoud's regime.
Kassir's widow is on her way back from the U.S. via Paris to Beirut. Her plane is expected to land at Beirut airport at mid-afternoon. She will put the final touches on the public funeral for which the opposition plans to field tens of thousands of mourners to walk behind the coffin.
Al Arabiya, the satellite network where Giselle Khoury works, said Friday she was insisting on France's participation in the investigation into her husband's assassination because he carried French nationality in addition to his Lebanese citizenship.
Two theories have been advanced by police: 1-an explosive charge was rigged into Kassir's car engine that went off as he turned on the ignition, 2-a bomb was planted under the driver's seat and was detonated by remote control. There were also varying estimates of the deadly charge, ranging from 5 to 7.5 kilograms.
Investigators found no clue yet as to the identity or motive of the killers. They are still examining the car wreckage for possible latent fingerprints or any other traces that could help the probe.
Spokesmen for various opposition groups, however, have squarely blamed the crime on Syrian intelligence operatives left behind after the April evacuation along with Lebanese affiliates from President Lahoud's regime.
Kassir's widow is on her way back from the U.S. via Paris to Beirut. Her plane is expected to land at Beirut airport at mid-afternoon. She will put the final touches on the public funeral for which the opposition plans to field tens of thousands of mourners to walk behind the coffin.
Al Arabiya, the satellite network where Giselle Khoury works, said Friday she was insisting on France's participation in the investigation into her husband's assassination because he carried French nationality in addition to his Lebanese citizenship.
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