Lebanon's parliament on Monday overwhelmingly passed a parole bill that grants amnesty to Lebanese Forces commander Samir Geagea. The Christian Maronite militia leader is likely to be freed from jail by the end of this week.
"This is a dream that came true. We waited for it for 11 years, 2 months and some days," Mrs. Geagea told reporters after leaving parliament. "History has been made and Lebanon's civil war is finally over."
The vote was unanimous for Geagea. Hizbullah's 13 legislators walked out of the hall when the vote was called to avoid casting 'no' ballots or abstain. An earlier vote for the release of the Dinniyeh and Majdal Anjar detainees was near unanimous, with only one legislator voting against.
The former anti-Syria leader and former Israel's ally has been serving a life sentence in prison. His four life sentences include three for the murder of political rivals, including a prime minister, and one for an attempt to kill a minister.
Geagea, 53, has lost a lot of weight in prison. According to Naharnet, he would be admitted to a hospital to undergo extensive medical tests and be nourished back to normal before returning home to take up his role among Lebanon's policymakers.
