Western diplomatic sources in Washington fear that the first signs of the regional "earthquake", vowed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is the return to a wave of assassinations of Lebanese politicians and journalists as happened between the years 2004 and 2008. The sources quoted by a Kuwaiti newspaper, conveyed that European intelligence agencies in Beirut have gathered information indicating that various groups had started to monitor the movements of a number of Lebanese politicians. These include former PMs Saad Hariri and Fouad Siniora, and prominent Lebanese politicians such as Walid Jumblatt, Marwan Hamade and Ahmad Fatfat.
The sources said they discussed this information with U.S., Arab and Turkish officials.
American sources said earlier this year there are Syrian plans for the assassination of Hariri. An Arab intelligence service asked the former PM to leave Lebanon immediately in light of the alarming information. Hariri has been out of Lebanon since March this year.
Meanwhile, Arab diplomatic sources conveyed Wednesday that the suspension of the Syrian membership in the Arab League during the upcoming meeting, scheduled for later on Wednesday is not the question. The sources said today's meeting will focus mainly on the Syrian response to the " Arab road map" to end the crisis as presented to the Syrian side during its meeting in Doha on Sunday. The Arab plan includes the cessation of violence and the withdrawal of army vehicles and tanks from the streets, the release of detainees, and convening a national dialogue between the regime and the opposition under the auspices of the Arab League.
The sources pointed out that the meeting will discuss the results of the recent visit to Damascus. They pointed out that the idea of freezing the Syrian membership is not on the agenda, for a number of considerations.
