BEIRUT: Hezbollah demanded Friday that Lebanese authorities withdraw a state summons for a former army general who called Prime Minister Saad Hariri a liar and urged people to topple his government. Former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Al-Sayyed was among four pro-Syrian officers who were jailed without charge for nearly four years in the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, Rafik. They were freed last year for lack of evidence. The state prosecutor summoned Al-Sayyed for questioning over his comments Sunday that "the Lebanese people must unite against this (government) and topple it, even if by force." He also accused Hariri of supporting false witnesses who misled the investigation into his father's death — a killing that set off a wave of turmoil that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops after nearly 30 years. Al-Sayyed, once one of the most powerful generals in the country, has close links to Hezbollah and the group's patron, Syria. Hezbollah — which is a partner in Lebanon's fragile unity government — condemned the summons. "We in Hezbollah consider the decision politically motivated and it aims to oppress and terrorize any person who says the truth," the group said in a statement. "We strongly reject it and call on (authorities) to withdraw it quickly." The statement was the latest example of the increasingly strained relations between Hariri's Western-backed bloc and Hezbollah, which has gained enough power in recent years that it now has virtual veto power over government decisions. Al-Sayyed left the country shortly after his remarks but was expected back Saturday — the deadline given on the summons demanding that he show up for questioning.
