Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat began on Monday his testimony at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that is examining the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri by recounting the nature of the ties between Lebanon and Syria, particularly with the ruling Assad family.
He told the trial chamber: “Bashar Assad showed hostility towards Rafik Hariri before he was elected president.”
Jumblat said that he had met Assad twice prior to his election as Syrian president in 2000.
He noted his animosity towards Hariri during the second meeting, which was held in Damascus in 1999.
“It was not a comfortable meeting and he focused his questions on Hariri. Evidence of his hostility towards him was clear in this meeting,” revealed Jumblat.