Ex-Lebanon official admits to carrying explosives from Syria
A former Lebanese minister charged with plotting a wave of bombings at Syria's behest confessed to transporting explosives into the country in collaboration with Syrian intelligence, his lawyer said Tuesday, arguing that his client was the victim of entrapment.
Ex-Information Minister Michel Samaha acknowledged during a session of his trial on Monday that he brought explosives from Syria into Lebanon, working in collaboration with Syrian intelligence and a Lebanese agent. But his lawyer, Sakhr al-Hashem, said Samaha denied any role in selecting targets for the planned attacks -- said to target a Sunni Muslim lawmaker and Muslim holiday banquets -- that were ultimately foiled by Lebanese authorities.
