President Michel Aoun said that Lebanon would seek evidence and documents from the United States that led Washington to impose sanctions on Friday on prominent Christian politician and his son-in-law Gebran Bassil.
The sanctions are the first against a senior Christian ally of Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite movement long targeted by US sanctions and blacklisted as a “terrorist” organisation.
For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
President “Aoun has asked his foreign minister to obtain the proof and documents that pushed the US Treasury to direct accusations against lawmaker Gebran Bassil”, his office said on Twitter.
Aoun also stressed “the necessity of handing over the documents to the Lebanese judiciary to take the necessary measures”, it said.
A source at the presidency said the request was made as “Bassil is a Lebanese lawmaker and (former) minister accused of graft”.
“If there were evidence against him, the Lebanese judiciary should follow up on the issue,” the source said.
Bassil, 50, has been dubbed by many as the “shadow president”.
He is married to the president’s daughter and heads the Free Patriotic Movement founded by Aoun, which together with its allies holds a parliamentary majority.
Read more:
US sanctions Lebanon’s Gebran Bassil for Hezbollah ties, corruption
Lebanese officials hit by US sanctions over corruption, support to Hezbollah
-
Lebanon to demolish Beirut port silos at risk of collapse after blast
Lebanon will demolish grain silos at Beirut port that were severely damaged in an enormous explosion in August because they are at risk of collapse, ... Middle East -
US sanctions Lebanon’s Gebran Bassil for Hezbollah ties, corruption
The United States has sanctioned Lebanon’s Gebran Bassil for his role in endemic corruption as well as his support for Hezbollah, senior government ... Middle East -
Forming Lebanon’s new cabinet is like mission impossible
The creation of a new cabinet in Lebanon seems to be heading toward deadlock, and the optimism that a cabinet may be formed from the presidential ... Middle East