Rustum Ghazali

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Rustum Ghazali (also transl. from Arabic as Rostom Ghazaleh, Rustom Ghazale, etc) is a Syrian politician and military officer.

Ghazali was appointed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2002 to succeed Col. Ghazi Kanaan as head of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon. He resided in the Bekaa valley, and has been accused of involvement in the Bekaa drug trade and other smuggling ventures.

In early 2005, the killing of Rafiq al-Hariri led to intense pressure on Syria. Ghazali's and Kanaan's foreign assets were frozen by the United States for their role in the alleged occupation of Lebanon and other suspected irregularities.[1] Syria eventually withdrew its 15,000 man strong army. Ghazali relocated to Syria. However, some Lebanese and foreign observers allege that Syria keeps interfering with Lebanese politics through parts of its intelligence apparatus left behind in the country; Syria denies the charges.

In September 2005, Ghazali was questioned on the Rafiq al-Hariri bombing by United Nations investigator Detlev Mehlis. In December 2005, former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam accused Ghazali of political corruption, dictatorial rule in Lebanon and of threatening al-Hariri prior to his death.^{[verification needed]}