Sources: Siddiq Arrested in Sharjah upon Syrian Demand

Mohamad Zuhair Siddiq, a Syrian army deserter often believed to be the false 'King Witness' in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, was reportedly arrested in the United Arab Emirates upon a Syrian demand.

A well-informed source told Al-Manar that Siddiq was arrested in the Sharjah emirate after Syria has demanded through Interpol to arrest Siddiq and extradite him. The sources said the man had a forged Syrian passport and was living in the city of Sharjah.

The source said that Siddiq would be transferred to Damascus soon, noting that several arrest warrants were issued in Lebanon and Syria against the man for providing false testimonies in the assassination case of Hariri.

The source also said that Siddiq had lately become a burden on the political sides that at one stage were providing cover for him. The source emphasized that Siddiq's detention would implicate many Lebanese politicians and figures who would be accused of manipulating the investigation.

Siddiq, who was under an international arrest warrant requested by a Lebanese prosecutor, was detained in October 2005 in a Paris suburb on grounds he gave false evidence to UN investigators. He had been living in France under house arrest until he disappeared a year ago.