General Security Directorate (Lebanon)

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The General Security Directorate (Sûreté générale) is a Lebanese intelligence agency. It was founded by decree on May 1, 1921 and was originally known as the "first bureau".

Contents 1 Functions 2 Perception 3 Former Members 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Functions

• Intelligence gathering
• VIP protection
• Supplying documents, such as passports, visas, and permits

[edit] Perception

Many Lebanese distrust General Security because of its close links with the Syrian intelligence.^{[citation needed]} The suspected involvement of former director Jamil Sayyed in the murder of Rafik Hariri and the questionable acting of a Sûreté guard during the Pierre Amine Gemayel assassination have not helped the reputation of the Sûreté générale.

[edit] Former Members

• Jamil Sayyed, suspected of involvement in the murder of Hariri.
• Etienne Saqr, leader of the Guardians of the Cedars.

[edit] See also

• Internal Security Forces
• Lebanese Armed Forces

[edit] External links

• http://www.general-security.gov.lb/
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