Amid Hammoud Denies Fleeing Lebanon, Stresses He's 'Under the Law'
Al-Mustaqbal movement official Amid Hammoud denied on Friday that he had fled Lebanon over confessions by militia leaders in the northern city of Tripoli that he provided them with weapons and ammunition.
In a phone interview with LBCI television, Hammoud revealed that he has been in Turkey since ten days and that he resides there on a “near-permanent basis,” declining to respond to any accusations.
Addressing Ziad Allouki and Saad al-Masri, who reportedly confessed against him before the Military Court, Hammoud said “may God forgive them.”
He also pointed out that he has not received any judicial writ until the moment and that he would turn himself in if summoned by Lebanese authorities.
“He noted that he is under the law, stressing that he is not on the run,” LBCI added.
A report published Friday by As Safir newspaper had claimed that Hammoud left Lebanon “a week ago.”
As Safir said he headed to Turkey after testimonies by al-Masri and Allouki before the Military Court.
The daily alleged that the Public Prosecution issued a search and arrest warrant against Hammoud in the wake of the confessions.
“Hammoud headed on the first airplane to Turkey after he was informed by a prominent figure in al-Mustaqbal of the prosecution's attempt to arrest him,” said As Safir.
“We advise you to leave the country soon because we can no longer protect you,” sources quoted the prominent leader as telling Hammoud.
In May 2014, several leaders of armed fighters in Tripoli, including Masri and Allouki, turned themselves in to the military intelligence ahead of the implementation of a security plan in the city.
Allouki and Masri were the leaders of fighting fronts in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood.
The security plan has resulted in the arrest of dozens of gunmen and fugitives in Tripoli and the eastern Bekaa region, but several wanted men have managed to escape, while others remain at large.
Y.R./H. K.
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