Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi questioned the loyalty of the security officials charged with monitoring shipments into Lebanon, saying that ten Shiite officers should be replaced, revealed a leaked U.S. Embassy cable published exclusively in Al-Akhbar on Thursday.

Rifi made his statements during a meeting with then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffery Feltman, which took place after he met with then Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and then acting Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat over changes needed at Beirut’s international airport.

Security forces succeeded on Thursday in arresting Abbas Abu Munthir Tleis, Lebanon’s most wanted individual in a raid in the Brital region in the Bekaa.

Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi stated that the raid took place at Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud’s orders.

Police chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi commented on the indictment issued against retired Army Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam, accusing him of spying for Israel.

"I was confident that head of the Change and Reform bloc Gen. Michel Aoun, who launched a malicious campaign against security officers … would not win this battle," Rifi said in remarks published Friday by Ad-Diyar newspaper.

Interior Minister Ziad Baroud denied on Saturday that he had problems with the general directorate of the Internal Security Forces, but said the institution should not fall in the trap of political rhetoric and should abide by rules and regulations.

“I was surprised to see that (ISF chief) Ashraf Rifi’s answer was published in one of the newspapers,” Baroud told LBC TV network.