Lahoud: Lebanon enemies behind slayings

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 25 (UPI) -- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said political assassinations in Lebanon serve Israel and extremists groups, but security agencies have prevented attempts.

Lahoud, accused by the opposition of having turned Lebanon into a police state with the backing of Syria, expressed hope an international commission will discover the truth about the Feb. 14 slaying of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

In addition to Hariri, anti-Syria journalist Samir Kassir and George Hawi, the anti-Syria former secretary general of the Lebanese Communist Party, were assassinated this month.

"Only the enemies of Lebanon benefit from the series of political assassinations that occurred in recent months, notably Israel and extremist groups which seek to destabilize Arab countries, including Lebanon," Lahoud told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing Saturday.

"Lebanon has aborted several assassination attempts recently," he said without elaborating.