Syria: Exiled former vice president sentenced to life in prison.Summary: A self-exiled former vice president of Syria has been found guilty by a military court of lying to U.N. officials investigating the murder of Lebanon's former prime minister, a lawyer said Saturday. A self-exiled former vice president of Syria has been found guilty by a military court of lying to U.N. officials investigating the murder of Lebanon's former prime minister, a lawyer said Saturday. Former Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam, who left the country in 2005, has accused the Syrian president of having threatened former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri Rafik Bahaeddine Al-Hariri — (November 1 1944 – February 14 2005), (Arabic: رفيق بهاءالدين الحريري before he was assassinated as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. in a February 2005 bombing. From his home in France, Khaddam has also called for the Syrian government's overthrow. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the AP, the lawyer who brought the case against Khaddam said the First Military Criminal Court convicted him in absentia in absentia (in ab-sensh-ee-ah) adj. or adv. phrase. Latin for "in absence," or more fully, in one's absence. Occasionally a criminal trial is conducted without the defendant being present when he/she walks out or escapes after the trial has begun, since the accused on Aug. 17 of giving false testimony against the Syrian government to U.N. officials investigating Hariri's killing. Khaddam was convicted of a dozen charges in total and sentenced to life in prison and hard labor HARD LABOR, punishment. In those states where the penitentiary system has been adopted, convicts who are to be imprisoned, as part of their punishment, are sentenced to perform hard labor. , said the lawyer, Hussameddine Habash. Among the other charges, Khaddam was found guilty of conspiring with a foreign country to carry out "aggression against Syria," Habash said. Khaddam was also convicted of having contacts with Israelis because of an interview he gave to an Israeli journalist. Syrian authorities will ask Interpol to arrest and extradite ex·tra·dite v. ex·tra·dit·ed, ex·tra·dit·ing, ex·tra·dites v.tr. 1. To give up or deliver (a fugitive, for example) to the legal jurisdiction of another government or authority. 2. Khaddam, Habash said. 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com) 2008 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com) Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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