Lebanon Gov't Removes Pro-Syrian Officials

[Freddie Stubbs]

BEIRUT, Lebanon - The Lebanese government removed the country's top prosecutor and a security chief Thursday, and replaced two other security chiefs who had stepped aside in a campaign to purge the administration of pro-Syrian officials.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati's Cabinet also appointed a new police commander and a new head of military intelligence.

The moves came two days after Syria completed its troop withdrawal from Lebanon under relentless international pressure, ending 29 years of political and military dominance of its smaller neighbor. The removal of the country's pro-Syrian security chiefs and the prosecutor-general had been a key demand of the anti-Syrian opposition.

A U.N. fact-finding mission that traveled to Beirut in March also suggested the security chiefs be replaced ahead of an international investigation into the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In an initial report, the fact-finding mission found Lebanon's own probe seriously flawed and declared Syria, with its troop presence, primarily responsible for the political tension preceding the assassination.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&ncid=535&e=12&u=/ap/20050428/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon