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Syria-US 'spy' Mohamad Soueid faces court | Syria-US 'spy' Mohamad Soueid faces court |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A Syrian-born American has been charged with spying on US activists who oppose the Damascus government. | |
US court papers say Mohamad Soueid, 47, sent 20 recordings of protests in the US to Syria's spy agency between April and June 2011. | |
The indictment also alleges Mr Soueid, from Virginia, went to Syria in June to meet President Bashar al-Assad. | The indictment also alleges Mr Soueid, from Virginia, went to Syria in June to meet President Bashar al-Assad. |
The Syrian embassy in Washington denied the charges, saying Mr Soueid has no connection with the Syrian government. | |
Mr Soueid, who appeared in court in Virginia, faces charges of gathering intelligence for a foreign government. | |
He has also been charged with lying to the FBI when they interviewed him in August about his activities with Mukhbarat, the Syrian intelligence agency. | He has also been charged with lying to the FBI when they interviewed him in August about his activities with Mukhbarat, the Syrian intelligence agency. |
Mr Soueid was arrested on Tuesday, He was born in Syria but is a naturalised US citizen. | |
It is also alleged that he tried to recruit other agents to monitor activities of American anti-Damascus activists. | It is also alleged that he tried to recruit other agents to monitor activities of American anti-Damascus activists. |
'Cherished right' | |
Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco said in a statement that Mr Soueid's actions were intended to "silence, intimidate and potentially harm" the protesters. | Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco said in a statement that Mr Soueid's actions were intended to "silence, intimidate and potentially harm" the protesters. |
Prosecutor Neil MacBride said: "The ability to assemble and protest is a cherished right in the United States, and it's troubling that a US citizen from Leesburg is accused of working with the Syrian government to identify and intimidate those who exercise that right." | Prosecutor Neil MacBride said: "The ability to assemble and protest is a cherished right in the United States, and it's troubling that a US citizen from Leesburg is accused of working with the Syrian government to identify and intimidate those who exercise that right." |
Earlier this year, a group of Syrian-Americans sued Mr Soueid - who has also used the names Alex Soueid and Anas Alswaid - and members of the Syrian government. | |
They say they were victimised by Damascus. | |
In a statement, Syria's embassy in Washington denied any connection between Mr Soueid and the Syrian government. | |
"Mr Soueid is not an agent of any Syrian institution; he never worked under directions or control of any Syrian official," the statement said. | |
President Assad has cracked down on demonstrations against his regime that began in Syria in March 2011. | President Assad has cracked down on demonstrations against his regime that began in Syria in March 2011. |
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