Lebanon said today it suspected Israel was behind the car bomb assassination of a Lebanese Christian warlord playing an important role in a war crimes suit against Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon.
It acknowledged there was no hard evidence linking Israel to yesterday's killing of Mr Elie Hobeika, whose pro-Israeli militia massacred hundreds of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in 1982.
A Lebanese group opposed to Syria's influence in the country claimed responsibility in a statement calling Mr Hobeika a traitor for his close ties to Damascus. The claim could not be verified.
Famed for shifting loyalties, Mr Hobeika had no shortage of Palestinian and Lebanese enemies, but most in Lebanon jumped to blame Israel, whose invading troops surrounded the camps at the time of the massacre.
Lebanese President Mr Emile Lahoud said after Mr Hobeika's death that he was sure Israel was involved. Today he said there was no firm proof yet, but that Israel had a stake in the disappearance of a man at the heart of the case filed against Mr Sharon in Belgium.
By deduction of who benefits it is easy to see, Mr Lahoud said. "Why now, after 20 years, does this happen to this person?"
Mr Hobeika died after saying he would testify in the Belgian case, in which Palestinians accuse Mr Sharon of crimes of humanity over the massacres. Mr Sharon, defence minister at the time, denies sanctioning the killing in the camps.