About an hour from this phone call, Gen Ghazi Kana’an, age 63, was reported to have shot himself in the mouth at his office in the interior ministry building in Damascus. (BBC News)

Ghazi Kana’an, or “Abu Yo’roub”, the long-time head of Syria’s security apparatus in Lebanon and then Syria’s Interior Minister from 2004 to 2005 met his death during an investigation into the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. The incident drew international attention given the series of events taking place in the Levant at the time. Born in 1942 to an Alawi family in Bhamra, Syria, Ghazi Kana’an was known to be a respectable and patriotic military man. (Aawsat)

Recall the fact that the U.N investigators’ unprecedented report was assigned to be released a few days from his death. In addition, Gen Kana’an was questioned by Detlev Mehlis – former Head United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission-- regarding the assassination of Rafik Hariri (the notorious assassination which resulted in the death of nine other people and left a crater 30 feet deep). (Al Jazeera). Given these two main factors, Kana’an’s suicide shook the Levant and led to speculations and theories on the “real” causes behind his death.

One accusation made by Farouk Al Share’ was directed at the Lebanese media whom Share’ believed “pushed” Gen Kana’an into committing suicide. There was also a widespread speculation regarding whether his death was due to murder or forced suicide by the Syrian state. (Biedermann, F). Ghazi Kana’an’s brother, Ali Kana’an, accused Syrian President Bashar Al Assad along with Bashar’s brother and brother-in-law for the death of Gen Ghazi. According to some sources, a Gulf diplomat revealed that Kana’an was actually killed as he was being confronted by members of the leading Baath party about Kana’an’s secret plans of turning against the regime with assistance from the US (Mideast Wire). Ali Kana’an committed suicide himself about a year later. Other opponents of the suicide theory from Kana’an’s close circle of family and friends argue that Gen Kana’an was too strong of a man to commit suicide over some false media allegations. (Al- Ahram)

Before his violent death, Gen Kana’an spoke his last words to Voice of Lebanon radio: “My testimony ... was to shed the light on an era during which we have served Lebanon. Sadly some media outlets have reported lies to mislead public opinion. I want to make clear that our relation with our brothers in Lebanon was based on love and mutual respect ... We have served Lebanon’s interest with honour and honesty.” (Landis, J)

The late Gebran Tueni who at the time was in Paris because of attacks on critics of Syria in Beirut, said he doubted Gen Kana’an had taken his own life and that he had information that Gen Kana’an had not died in his office, as the Syrian government had claimed. “I don’t think Ghazi Kana’an committed suicide. We know there have been many cases like this in the past in Damascus”. “He was somebody who knew a lot about who was involved in that totalitarian regime.” He added, “Maybe they were afraid that Ghazi Kana’an would give up information about the way the Syrian regime was dealing with the Lebanese.” (Ibrahim, A)

Hours before he died, when Gen Kana’an contacted the radio station, he acknowledged that he had been questioned by UN investigators, but asserted that he had given no information against the Syrian state. He ended his on-air suicide note by saying: “I believe this is the last statement that I can make.” (CNN)

References:

- Mideast Wire, “Ghazi Kana’an in videotape before his assassination reveals names...” Retrieved from http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?article=328099&issueno=9816#.UfddsawvG1s

- Biedermann, F. Rumours ferment as former regent of Lebanon is buried. Financial Times.

- Landis, Joshua. Kana’an Speaks from the Grave? & Syria in Iraq. Retrieved from http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Joshua.M.Landis-1/syriablog/2006/09/Kana’an-speaks-from-grave-syria-in-iraq.htm