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U.S. To Help Investigate Beirut Assassination

October 22, 2012

The United States has announced it will help Lebanon investigate the car bombing that killed the country's intelligence chief.

The announcement came as violence flared again in Lebanon on October 21, with skirmishes between mourners and security forces following the Beirut funeral of General Wissam al-Hassan.

Police fired in the air and used tear gas to repel protesters trying to storm Prime Minister Najib Mikati's office, accusing Mikati of being a puppet of Syria.

The State Department said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke by telephone with Mikati and condemned the October 19 bombing.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Clinton and Mikati "agreed that the U.S. would provide assistance in the investigation of the bombing.”

Opponents of Lebanon's government have blamed the bombing on Syria's regime, which has long had strong influence in Lebanon.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us-help-investigate-beirut-bomb-assassination/24746675.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.