(Beirut, Lebanon) From the Khaleej Times comes the report that Lebanese authorities refused to extradite to the United States Hezbollah members suspected of attacking Americans in Beirut during the 1980s.

They also refused to extradite U.S. Marine Corps deserter, Wassef Ali Hassoun (pic).

Authorities have also rejected a US request to hand over Wassef Hassoun, an American of Lebanese origin who deserted the Marines in 2004 and left Iraq for Lebanon and then left the southern port city of Tripoli for the US. It was reported later that Hassoun has left the US and headed back to Lebanon.

The judicial sources said the general amnesty law which was adopted in 1991 after the 1975-1990 civil war ended in Lebanon covered incidents of which the four were accused. As for Hassoun, the sources gave no reason for rejecting his extradition.

So, somewhere in Lebanon, fugitive deserter Wassef Ali Hassoun is living his life constantly looking over his shoulder. I hope he suffers from anxiety attacks.

In a later report from Beirut, The Daily Star indicates that Lebanese officials are still considering the U.S. extradition request.

"The issue is still being studied," said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson to The Daily Star in reference to the latest request by a U.S. official to extradite five wanted Lebanese citizens, accused of attacks against Americans, to be tried in the U.S.

"We have no official final comment at this point," said the spokesperson.

From Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 02:51 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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