Hamadeh warns of Syrian-Iranian attempts to terminate opposition in Lebanon

Member of Parliament Marwan Hamadeh warned that the collapse of the Syrian-Iranian influence in Lebanon may prompt them to terminate its opponents in that country.

Speaking to "France 24" TV channel on Thursday, the MP demanded to refer the assassination attempt against Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to the file of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in order to curtail the spate of killings and assassinations in the country.

He cautioned that both Damascus and Tehran, who are under pressure, may try to annihilate its opponents in Lebanon.

"If God forbidden Geagea was killed then the return of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri to Lebanon would have been nearly impossible in the short term and this may have discouraged MP Walid Jumblatt from freeing himself politically," Hamadeh argued.

He stressed that the only way to activate democratic life in Lebanon, hold free election and protect the institutions was to re-activate the international tribunal. Hamdeh called on the STL to extend its authority by including other files.

The MP suggested that the parties which assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri may be the same sides which attempted to assassinate Geagea.

Hamdeh blasted the government for failing to end the repeated Syrian incursions into Lebanon, calling for the deployment of the Lebanese army along the border.

The MP was skeptical about reports that Syrian forces will comply with the cease fire call by United Nations peace envoy Kofi Annan, noting that not a single Syrian tank withdrew from the Syrian cities.