Ex-Lebanese Minister on Trial Confesses to Transporting Explosives From Syria

A former Lebanese minister charged with plotting a wave of bombings at Syria's behest confessed to transporting explosives into the country in collaboration with Syrian intelligence, his lawyer said Tuesday, arguing that his client was the victim of entrapment.
Ex-Information Minister Michel Samaha acknowledged during a session of his trial on Monday that he brought explosives from Syria into Lebanon, working in collaboration with Syrian intelligence and a Lebanese agent.
His lawyer said Samaha denied any role in selecting targets for the planned attacks, instead suggesting to target a Sunni Muslim lawmaker and Muslim holiday banquets, which were ultimately foiled by Lebanese authorities.
Samaha told the military tribunal that he only suggested planting explosives at illegal crossings between Syria and Lebanon "for Lebanon's sake, not Syria's" — apparently in reference to fears of militants moving across the countries' shared border.