3 Lebanese Ousted by Africa Republic

Three Lebanese citizens have been expelled in connection with the hijacking of an Air Afrique airliner by a pro-Iranian Lebanese, government officials said Saturday.

The officials did not identify the three and gave no details of the expulsions.

The hijacker, who identified himself as 21-year-old Hussein Ali Mohammed Hariri, seized the airliner during a flight from Rome to Paris on July 24 and ordered it to land in Geneva. His demands included the release of pro-Iranian extremists jailed in France and West Germany.

Hariri was reported to have boarded the plane in the Central African Republic’s capital of Bangui. He was overpowered by the crew and handed over to Swiss police after he fatally shot a French passenger.

Hariri has been charged with murder, attempted murder and hostage-taking.