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Last update - 14:02 05/08/2008
Report: Syria arrests suspects in murder of Hezbollah liaison
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Mohammed Suleiman 

Syria has apprehended a number of suspects believed linked to the assassination of a senior military official, the London-based pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Tuesday.

Syria on Monday remained silent on the murder of Brigadier General Mohammed Suleiman, who was killed by a sniper Friday night. Suleiman was President Bashar Assad's right-hand man, yet no government or state news media have reported the killing, which has been covered by foreign and Arab news sources and Syrian exile media.

Contrary to various speculation, Israel denied any involvement in the murder, Sky News reported on Monday.
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Assad is vacationing in Turkey after a two-day visit in Iran.

The Turkish news agency Anatolia reported on Monday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit Assad at the Aegean resort of Bodrum today.

Turkish officials reported that Israel and Syria are to hold another round of indirect talks later this month. This will be the first round after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his intention to resign. Syria has not said what course of action it would take after Olmert. However, Damascus is closely following the announcements of the politicians contending for Kadima's leadership on this issue.

A Syrian source told Asharq Al-Awsat, which is published in London, that "the Syrian regime is in a difficult and complicated situation."

The newspaper says Suleiman was in charge of financing and arming the Syrian army. The source confirmed the report that Suleiman was the liaison between the Syrian government and Hezbollah and in charge of other defense portfolios in Assad's bureau.

"All the sensitive defense portfolios passed through Suleiman first," the source reportedly said.

The source dismissed the speculation that intrigue in the Syrian leadership had led to Suleiman's murder. He said Suleiman, who was very close to Assad, was more influential than the defense minister and chief of staff.

Sky News reported on Monday that Israel denied any responsibility for the murder.

"To the best of my knowledge we didn't do it," an Israeli source told Sky News. "Look, it's outside the rules. Of course, assassinations take place, but to hit a general in his own country is close to an act of war and we just don't want a war with Syria. We are busy talking to them," the source said.

Another source said: "An Iranian spy might be killed in Lebanon, a Hezbollah guy in Syria, but not a Syrian in Syria with a sniper."

"The sniper might miss, he might get caught, there would have to be retaliation and neither side wants to get caught up in that game," he said.

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