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Syria names new chief of intelligence
Associated Press
Published February 19, 2005
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Syrian President Bashar Assad replaced the chief of military intelligence with his brother-in-law, a Syrian official said Friday. The move came four days after the assassination in Beirut of Lebanon's former prime minister.
The chief of military intelligence oversees Syria's domestic and foreign intelligence operations, including activities in Lebanon, where Syria has some 15,000 troops and many intelligence agents.
Outgoing chief Gen. Hassan Khalil, 65, had passed retirement age and his retirement had been postponed several times. The new chief is the former deputy head of military intelligence, Brig. Gen. Asef Shawkat, 55.
Assad's move indicates he is consolidating his hold on the security services. Shawkat is close to Assad and recently emerged as a top presidential adviser on security matters. He is married to Assad's sister, Bushra.
Monday's bombing, which killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, provoked criticism of Syria's presence in Lebanon. The United States withdrew its ambassador to Damascus, giving the assassination as the immediate cause, and the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution reminding Syria it was obliged to implement a council resolution that called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon.
[Last modified February 19, 2005, 00:58:04]
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