Tumult Over Wissam Hassan’s Alleged Meeting with Zuheir Siddiq in Egypt

Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud has asked Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi to take “suitable measures” with regard to the travel of Intelligence Bureau chief Col. Wissam Hassan to Egypt.

Baroud told Rifi on Wednesday that such measures would clarify the extent to which various regulations were being respected.

The minister’s request came after al-Jadid TV reported that Hassan had traveled to Egypt to meet with Zuheir Siddiq, a former witness in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination.

But Rifi said that Hassan left Monday aboard an Egypt Airlines flight on an official visit to meet the Egyptian head of intelligence. “Hassan returned to Beirut on Tuesday on board a private plane rented from Open Sky Company.”

“The aim of the visit was to become familiar with and discuss bilateral security issues in light of the recent developments in Egypt,” said Rifi.