Lebanon Breaks Ties With Iraq Over Killing of Dissident

Lebanon severed diplomatic relations with Iraq on Monday and ordered Baghdad’s mission in the Lebanese capital to leave within 72 hours.

The decision followed Iraq’s refusal to waive the diplomatic immunity of two embassy diplomats allegedly involved in the assassination of a prominent Iraqi dissident in Beirut last week.

Lebanon rejects any infringement on its sovereignty, security and stability as well as the violation of diplomatic rules, Information Minister Michel Samaha said after a three-hour special session of the Lebanese Cabinet on Monday night.

The two Iraqis have been held in solitary confinement since Lebanese security forces apprehended them last Wednesday. Samaha said the two have admitted killing Sheik Taleb Ali Suheil, 64, on direct orders from the Iraqi intelligence department in Baghdad.

Despite official Iraqi denials of any involvement on their part and the demand for the men’s release, the press speculated Monday that prosecutors will proceed with the case against Mohammed Kazem Faris, 37, the Iraqi Embassy cultural attache, and Khaled Alwan Khalaf 34, the Iraqi commercial attache.

Lebanese authorities say the murder weapon, a silencer-equipped pistol, was found in the diplomats’ car when they were arrested by Lebanese police in front of the Iraqi Embassy compound shortly after the crime.

Authorities here also want to interrogate Iraqi Consul Ali Sultan Darwish, thought to be the chief intelligence officer at the embassy, on suspicion of masterminding the assassination.

A Lebanese employee at the embassy, George Teredjian, was formally charged Friday with complicity in Suheil’s killing and is also being held.

Possible repercussions were hinted at Saturday by Awad Fakhri, the Iraqi charge d’affaires at the Beirut embassy. He noted that 12,000 Lebanese live and work in Iraq and that they are treated like brothers. Every country should think of its interests, Fakhri added.

In spite of this consideration, editorials in Monday’s newspapers argued for severing ties with the government of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.