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Strugar: Investigations of Network Ongoing

Strugar: Investigations of Network Ongoing
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Source: Al-Manar TV, 19-10-2008

Once again, all eyes were directed to the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a few hours after a police officer and two civilians were accused by a military judge of possessing explosives with the intent to commit terrorist acts against international forces in Southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL's political adviser Milos Strugar talked to Al-Manar about the issue, stressing that the investigations in the Kfarshouba network are still underway. "Investigating this crime lies within the Lebanese Jurisdiction," Strugar confirmed, but he made it clear that "we expect to be
informed of the results."

Strugar highlighted that the international forces are coordinating with the Lebanese army to safeguard the security of its personnel and posts. He explained that the force was in "constant contact" with the Lebanese army "which is in charge of safeguarding the peacekeepers and their positions."

"The situation on the ground is good and we are satisfied with the cooperation of all parties in the ceasefire in line with UNSCR 1701," the UNIFIL political adviser said, adding that "the situation on the ground is generally calm and stable."

On Friday a military judge accused a police officer and two civilians of possessing explosives with the intent to commit terrorist acts, a judicial official said. "The three men were caught in possession of vials containing unknown substances which have been sent to a laboratory to determine their contents," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The arrested persons were identified as Rifaat Kaderi from Kfar Shouba, Mustapha Bakkour from the northern area of Minieh and Mohammad Amer from Swayri in the western Bekaa Valley.

The officials say the three were arrested this week after security troops confiscated weapons and vessels containing a liquid possibly used to activate explosives. "The military judge has accused them of possession of illegal substances and has ordered their detention," the official said.

Press reports said that the explosives that were found were highly dangerous and the group might have been planning to target UNFIL. But well-informed sources told Al-Manar that the dangerous liquid was identified as the "red mercury" and the cost of each vessel is around one million dollars.

The three were arrested in the Kfar Shouba district in southern Lebanon, local press reported, though the date of their arrests was not specified. "The accused are not linked to the attacks that recently took place in Tripoli," the official said referring to two bus bombings that targeted Lebanese soldiers leaving over two dozen people killed.


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