Briefing to the Security Council on the Sixteenth Semi-Annual Report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004) 9 November 2012 Mr. President, The Secretary-General has expressed on numerous occasions his concern that Lebanon was not immune from the turmoil in the region. He reported on worries of various parties about plots aimed at disrupting domestic stability, particularly in the context of the proliferation of weapons and growing tension and polarization in the country. Sadly, on 19 October, Lebanon was struck by a car bomb in the center of Beirut, killing and injuring many. This political assassination targeted Brigadier—General Wissam Al Hassan, the head of the intelligence bureau of the Internal Security Forces. The killing of such a key Sunni/14 March security figure has raised again the danger of sectarian strife and concerns of the conflict in Syria spreading further to Lebanon. This assassination took place after attempts earlier this year against Samir Geagea and Boutros Herb, two leading figures of the opposition. It is worth recalling that Al- Hassan was responsible for the arrest on 9 August of former Minister and Member of Parliament Michel Samaha. He is being investigated for involvement in smuggling explosives from Syria, allegedly as part of a plot against targets in Lebanon, with the aim of provoking confessional strife. Syrian General Matnlouk and Colonel Adnan have also been identified as suspects in the same case. More recently, the Military Court has been examining evidence that an adviser to the Syrian President, Buthaina Shaaban, also was allegedly involved in the case. Several Lebanese political figures. mostly from the 14 March alliance, have accused President Assad for instigating this latest assassination. The impact of this assassination is likely to play out over a long period of time. It led immediately to the opposition calling for the r