Hobeika 'had massacre evidence'

Hobeika had recently spoken of fearing for his life

By the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut

A Lebanese newspaper says it believes that Elie Hobeika, the right-wing Christian leader assassinated in Beirut, had important evidence on the mass killings of Palestinian refugees in 1982.

His death in a car bomb on Thursday has put the spotlight on a case in Belgium against the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, for his alleged role in the massacres at the city's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

Knowing the former warlord's violent past and shifting loyalties, some observers wonder whether his words should be taken seriously, and whether such evidence actually exists

Mr Sharon was minister of defence at the time and was held indirectly responsible by an Israeli commission of inquiry, which also said Mr Hobeika and his militia were directly responsible.

Editors of Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper have told the BBC they held an informal meeting with Elie Hobeika last year.

One of the editors said Mr Hobeika told them again recently he held videotapes and documents that would prove his innocence, and challenge the Israeli version of the story of the Sabra and Shatila massacres.

Mr Hobeika also told the editors he was not afraid of being killed, and had taken the necessary precautions to make sure that the evidence in his possession would still be accessible if he disappeared.

Dubious evidence

On Thursday, a car bomb killed Mr Hobeika and his three bodyguards in a suburb of Beirut.

The Lebanese Government has accused Israel of killing Mr Hobeika to remove a key witness in the case.

Israel has dismissed the accusation as ridiculous.

Hobeika had denied responsibility for the massacres

According to the Daily Star, Mr Hobeika said the evidence was in a safe place, but did not give any hints as to what or where that safe place might be.

The evidence, in any case, is not in the safe hands of the lawyers working on the case against Mr Sharon in Belgium.

The lawyers had not met personally with Mr Hobeika.

But knowing the former warlord's violent past and shifting loyalties, some observers wonder whether his words should be taken seriously, and whether such evidence actually exists.

If it does exist, they say it could perhaps implicate other factions in Lebanon.

The Brussels Court of Appeals is due to rule on 6 March if the trial of Mr Sharon should proceed.