| December 2008 - News |
| December 2008 |
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Syria and Lebanon boost anti-terrorism coordination Syria and Lebanon have agreed to boost border controls and anti-terrorism coordination. The decision followed the arrival of Ziad Baroud in Damascus on November 10, the first visit by a Lebanese interior minister to Syria since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul Majid and his Lebanese counterpart agreed to boost links between the two interior ministries and security services. They also agreed to establish a security commission to “put into place the basis of coordination in the fight against terrorism and crime.” The commission will be tasked with establishing a joint Syrian-Lebanese mechanism for policing the border. Baroud’s visit came four days after Syrian state television broadcast the confessions of 12 people claiming responsibility for the September 27 car bombing in Damascus which killed 17 people. The confessors claimed to be members of the al-Qaeda inspired Fatah al-Islam group from Lebanon and alleged they received funding from Saudi nationals and Saad Hariri’s Future Movement in Lebanon. Speaking at a joint press conference with Majid, Baroud said the Lebanese interior ministry would also look into the allegations. |