Editor's Comment: It seems rather obvious that Dr. Samaha has been arrested on trumped up charges as a result of his support for the Syrian government and harsh opposition to the US/Israeli mercenary war in the country. For more, read the opinion given below this Press TV report published on the Uprooted Palestinians website.

- Les Blough, Editor  

Former Lebanese Minister Michel Samaha was arrested at his home this morning by members of the intelligence branch in the Lebanese internal security forces.

"Former Lebanese minister and parliamanet member Michel Samaha has been arrested by Lebanese internal security for reasons still unknown. Many have come out agianst the arrest of Samaha who is a long time ally of the Syrian Governement and the Resistance as well as a critic of U-S policies in the region."

The news came as a shock for the family of Samaha and many politicians.Several people gathered at his house to show solidarity and protest the method of arrest which they considered to be unacceptable:

The security forces seized two of his vehicles, a computer and several items, including CDs and videos, from two houses: one in his home town and one in Beirut.

There have been no official statements giving clear explanations why Samaha was arrested, but acting General Prosecutor Samir Hammoud stated that the arrest was for “security reasons.” One local TV said he is being linked to an assassination attempt against one March 14th parliament member, and to bombing attempts in several areas in Lebanon.

Samaha’s family said that his arrest was political arbitrary. Samaha is a prominent figure in the March 8th coalition and is known for his pro-Syrian stance as well as his close friendship with Syrian president Bashar Assad.

Samaha has always been a strong advocator for the resistance and a critic of US policies in the region. Politicians in the March 8th coalition which includes Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic movement have denounced the arrest and considered it as part of a campaign to target all pro-Syrian and pro-resistance groups:

Hezbollah and other prominent political groups close to Samaha have said they will wait to see how the judicial system takes care of the case. While family members and friends have warned they will hold mass protests if Michel Samaha is not released by Friday.

Press TV also has an interesting video report of Dr. Samaha's Arrest

Michel Samaha of the Nuclear Bomb

Events are rushing and overlapping in Lebanon and elsewhere. The Special Tribunal is preparing to start soon its sessions to try -in their absence- the four members of Hizbullah accused of killing Hariri on the ground of false evidence collected from bribed witnesses.

While Lebanon has adopted a stand of neutrality regarding the Syrian events and has refused to share in the conference held -in Teheran- to solve the Syrian problem, we awoke today to the disturbing news that ex Lebanese Media minister Michel Samaha has been arrested when security forces -supportive of Hariri- broke into his house at dawn and took him on the ground of cooperating and coordinating with the Syrian Military authorities to smuggle arms and place bombs at the Ramadan Iftars in the region of Akkar and elsewhere to hit supporters of the so called Syrian opposition .

The pack of lies that we have been hearing since yesterday is breathtaking. The way the minister was arrested was illegal because the security men had no written permission to break into the house and search it. They also had their faces covered - which is illegal - probably to increase the effect and work on peoples’ psyche. Mr. Samaha, who is a politician and a researcher, as everyone knows, cannot be involved in such a thing as arms smuggling and explosive mining. It seems that Mr. Samaha, known for his pro Syrian, pro-Resistance stands, had in his possession, not weapons – but some information and some documents that compromise the Lebanese authorities and reveal Lebanese cooperation with the CIA at an official level. For this reason the arrest took place last morning.

And while weapons are being smuggled by tons, and criminal thugs introduced by thousands into Syria with the help of deputies belonging to the Hariri group, it is Michel Samaha who is arrested and accused of plotting against the security of the country, on the ground of fake fabricated evidence. This method is similar to the fabricated evidence that led to the accusation of members of Hizbulla of the assassination of Hariri.

 Now if one wants to believe the dubious rumors of the local and foreign press, one must believe that Mr. Samaha is the owner of one of the biggest arsenals of weapons in the region, with tanks and even nuclear arms . Mr Samaha must be in possession of something really valuable - a nuclear weapon of different kind that is threatening many Lebanese officials.

(edited by Axis of Logic)

Source: Uprooted Palestinians