Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss said President Laurent-Desire...

Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss said President Laurent-Desire Kabila commuted the death sentence imposed on Sammi Yassine and Khalil Ghodban, two Lebanese convicted of illegal currency trafficking and spying for rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The reprieve followed intense diplomatic efforts by Lebanon and other countries, as well as by private individuals and organisations, to convince Kabila to reduce the sentences. Hoss said that he had sought the intervention of Egypt, Libya, France and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In addition, Hassan Haider, Sudan's ambassador to Congo, said that he and other Arab ambassadors had made their own appeals on behalf of the two Lebanese men.