In September 2005 , Ghazaleh was questioned on the Hariri assassination by United Nations investigator Detlev Mehlis . In December 2005 , former Syrian vice president Abdul Halim Khaddam accused Ghazaleh of political corruption , dictatorial rule in Lebanon and of threatening Hariri prior to his death . After the withdrawal from Lebanon little was heard of him . However , at the beginning of the protests in Daraa , Ghazaleh was sent by Bashar al-Assad to assure locals of the president 's good intentions . He reportedly told them : " We have released the children " - a reference to several teenagers who were arrested for writing anti-government graffiti inspired by the events in Egypt and Tunisia . In May 2011 , the European Union said Ghazaleh was head of military intelligence in Damascus countryside ( Rif Dimashq ) governorate , which borders Daraa governorate , and was involved in the repression of dissent in the region . He is considered part of Assad 's inner circle
the Hariri assassination
Assassination of Rafic Hariri
Rustum Ghazaleh