EX-Christian Warlord Released in Lebanon

[Judi Lynn]

EX-Christian Warlord Released in Lebanon

By ZEINA KARAM
Associated Press Writer

July 26, 2005, 4:36 AM EDT


BEIRUT, Lebanon -- A notorious anti-Syrian Christian warlord was released Tuesday after 11 years in prison, the latest reconciliatory step in civil war-scarred Lebanon after the recent collapse of Syria's military dominance.

Samir Geagea, 53, left his Defense Ministry cell in Beirut and soldiers escorted him straight to Lebanon's international airport where he met with Lebanese Forces supporters, a senior Lebanese
security officer said on condition of anonymity because the government had not officially commented on his release.

Antoinette Geagea, spokeswoman for the banned Christian Lebanese Forces militia which Geagea headed during the 1975-90 civil war, told The Associated Press that her relative was freed Tuesday morning.

An Associated Press photographer at Lebanon's international airport said he briefly saw Geagea and his wife, Setrida, in footage provided by the Lebanese Forces on a television screen.

A grinning Geagea, wearing a blue shirt and appearing skinny with slightly graying hair, was seen shaking hands and embracing applauding supporters while asking about Lebanese Forces members before the transmission was cut.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ats-ap_intl14jul26,0,4748888.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines

Christian warlord.

[billyoc]

1. Nice catch, JL

The headline makes Geagea sound like an ex-christian... nice framing.

IIRC, these phalangists are the fellows that would hang giant wooden crosses around their necks, smoke a bunch of hashish and go out on massacres. :eyes: