CAIRO: The detainees being held in Egypt on charges that they were carrying out operations for Hezbollah might be referred to military courts once investigations are complete, local and regional newspapers reported.
The detainees can be referred to military courts if they are being charged with conspiring with foreign entities and planning attacks on Egyptian targets, according to Egyptian independent daily Al-Shorouk and pan-Arab daily Asharq Alawsat.
The defense team for the detainees has admitted the possibility exists, but one of the lawyers, Montasser Al-Zayat, expects the detainees to be referred to the State Security Supreme Court.
Egypt has detained 25 suspects and is searching for 24 more in the Sinai Peninsula. Charges against the suspects include terror activities and targeting Israeli and foreign tourists in Egypt.
Hezbollah have claimed that the group, which they say numbers no more than 10, were in Egypt to offer funds and arms to Hamas in the Gaza Strip along the Sinai border.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit meanwhile refuted claims made in the western media that Egypt was tipped off about the Hezbollah cell by Israeli and American intelligence services.
“Those who say this are fishing in murky waters, for Egyptian security monitored the group and gathered the evidence, and made a calculated move at the right moment, he said.
Aboul Gheit added in a possible allusion to Iran, “Those who benefit from causing trouble are those who are trying to harm Egypt. And there is a power seeking control over the decision-making process and bending it to its will. What makes one laugh and cry is that these countries are much weaker than the capabilities of Egypt.
The case has brought to a head a possible collision course between Egypt and the Lebanese Shia group. Al-Ahram newspaper quoted an unnamed official who stated that after recent events, members of Hezbollah may no longer be welcome in Egypt.
The official said that “treatment of the organization will be different from what it has been in the past.
For its part, Hezbollah has dismissed the Egyptian claims as nothing more than the expression of a vendetta against the group. Deputy Head Naim Qassim told AFP that the claims were “fabricated in order to “sully Hezbollah’s image.
“It has become clear to everyone that these accusations are fabricated … and that they are worthless, Qassim said.
