SYRIA SAYS MINISTER IN LEBANON INQUIRY COMMITTED SUICIDE

Committed suicide? Yeah, Mohammed's ass he killed himself! It's more likely he was informed that his service to the government was no longer needed, due to his soon to be untimely death. But he should rest in peace knowing that his "suicide" will prevent embarrassing and damning information from falling into the right hands.

JEDDA, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 12 - Ghazi Kanaan, Syria's powerful interior minister and former head of military intelligence in Lebanon, was found dead in his Damascus office today, adding a dramatic new twist to the ongoing investigation into the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafik Hariri. Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported that Mr. Kanaan had died in his office this morning of an apparent gunshot wound to the head, and declared his death a suicide.

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SYRIAN 'SUICIDE SPARKS THEORIES

The official Syrian News Agency announced Ghazi Kanaan's suicide without attempting to explain it.

It said cryptically that the authorities were carrying out the necessary investigation.

But, given Mr Kanaan's long and intimate connection with neighbouring Lebanon, many will regard his death as suspicious and will link it to the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February.