Syria slams Kuwaiti press for 'instigation
'Compiled by Daily Star staff Tuesday, December 20, 2005
BEIRUT: Syria slammed the Kuwaiti press on Monday for "language of instigation and insults" used in articles accusing Damascus of being behind the series of assassinations carried out in Lebanon.
In a statement, the Syrian Embassy in Kuwait expressed "deep regrets at articles and news carried by the Kuwaiti press, which undermine Syria's reputation and accuse it of all the disturbances in Lebanon."
The statement added: "Articles are written on an almost daily basis against Syria, hurling accusations without objective justification ... and using the language of instigation and insults."
Kuwait's press has been highly critical of Damascus, especially after the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February.
Kuwaiti Arabic daily As-Siyassah, which has been leading the anti-Syrian campaign, carries almost daily articles attacking the Syrian regime, and holding it responsible for Hariri's assassination.
On Monday, As-Siyassah published an article based on "British parliamentary sources" there is a possibility the Syrian intelligence apparatus and its agents in Lebanon may assa-ssinate Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
According to As-Siyassah's British source, a few hours after UN Security Council Resolution 1644 was issued "the Syrian military intelligence command in Damascus sent out orders to its agents in Lebanon saying 'deliver us from Siniora.'"
The newspaper further alleged the name of Druze leader and opposition MP Walid Jumblatt "is ranked high on the hit list," which also carries the name of recently assassinated journalist and MP Gebran Tueni.
However, it is not only the Kuwaiti press that continues to slam Damascus for allegedly having a hand in Hariri's assassination and a possible link to the string of assassination that continue to target prominent Lebanese.
Lebanon's media have launched a similar campaign in which most opposition politicians have accused Syria of creating havoc in Lebanon.

Several Lebanese papers published Jumblatt's repeated accusations on Monday that "the Syrian military intelligence" is responsible for the string of brutal assassinations in Lebanon.
Jumblatt, who spoke in a televised interview late Sunday, said Syrian intelligence "has lots of money to send to their agents in Lebanon ... because we said we want the truth, they assassinate us one after the other."
Meanwhile, the Lebanese investigations into the Tueni assassination continued Monday with the Internal Security Forces questioning more than 20 people whose features resembled a police sketch of the suspected perpetrator of Tueni's murder.
Investigating Magistrate Rashid Mizher also received a report from a French exp-losives expert regarding an investigation of the remains of Tueni car to determine the type of explosives used in
the crime.
Investigating Magistrate Elias Eid also questioned several witnesses in the Hariri case.
The international investigation into Hariri's assassination is also ongoing, as acting chief investigator Detlev Mehlis, who said Saturday he believed Syria was "definitely" behind the assassination, was expected to reach Beirut "within the next 72 hours," according to Daily Star sources.
It is widely believed Mehlis will be succeeded by 42-year-old Belgian Magistrate Serge Brammertz, who is currently the Deputy Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court.
However, the Security Council has yet to be informed of a final decision, according to the Council's President U.K. Ambassador to the UN Emyr Parry.