Syrian FM: Israel had most to gain from Mugniyah's death

Syrian Foreign Minster Walid Muallem hinted on Sunday that Israel was behind the recent assassination of arch-terrorist Imad Mugniyah, saying "any time a major crime is committed one must ask who gained the most from it. Israel tops the list of those who benefited from the crime."

Mughniyah, a senior Hizbullah commander, was killed on February 12 by a car bomb blast in Damascus.

In an interview with Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anba, Muallem denied Syria had any interest in having Mugniyah eliminated, saying "anyone who claims this doesn't know the facts".

Muallem said the assassination was not the result of a failure on the part of Syrian intelligence. "Such crimes occur in many capital cities around the world, and I cannot describe (the Mugniyah killing) as an intelligence breach.

"Moreover, Mugniyah was not protected and did not conduct himself in accordance with any special security procedures. He would come and go under different aliases."

During the interview the FM said Hizbullah was "a friend to Syria", adding that the militant group is loyal to Lebanon and is not controlled by Damascus.

Referring to the possibility of another Israeli attack on Lebanon, Muallem said "In light of the crazy policy encouraged by the US, any rational person knows that any scenario should be taken into consideration and prepare accordingly."