By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer Tue Oct 4,11:29 AM ET, BEIRUT, Lebanon – Lebanon’s government appointed a new security chief Tuesday, replacing a powerful general implicated in the assassination of the former prime minister as authorities attempt to tackle a deterioration in law and order. The appointment came after months of political wrangling among factions in the half-Christian, half-Muslim Cabinet. The government has been trying to oust pro-Syrian officials, who are blamed for increasing lawlessness in the capital.The government postponed a decision on a long-awaited plan to overhaul the security services amid continuing discussions on whether to dissolve an intelligence gathering agency or simply name a new commander for it. In the most prominent of several appointments, the Cabinet appointed army Brig. Gen. Wafiq Jizzini to head the Interior Ministry’s General Security Department.
He replaced Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, who was arrested in August after being implicated with three other top generals in the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.The Cabinet also agreed on a new commander for the uniformed police outside the capital, Beirut, replacing an officer appointed by the previous pro-Syrian government. The Cabinet’s choice will go to President Emile Lahoud, who has the final say.
Lebanon has witnessed a series of mysterious explosions in the past eight months and the government has acknowledged that it is not even close to arresting the culprits.
Politicians fear more violence as a U.N. investigation into Hariri’s Feb. 14 assassination nears its end.
In other appointments Tuesday, the government appointed Brig. Gen. Shawki al-Masri as the military chief of staff, replacing an officer who retired. Judge Antoine Kheir was made head of the Supreme Judicial Council, the highest judicial authority.
Under Lebanon’s sectarian system of power sharing, the major sects in the Muslim and Christian communities are allocated shares of senior positions in the civil service and armed forces.