BEIRUT: Lebanon’s military investigative judge called Thursday for the death penalty against four Lebanese and an Egyptian in the case of the 2004 assassination of a high-ranking Hezbollah official.

Judge Imad Zein issued an indictment accusing four Lebanese and an Egyptian in the assassination of Hezbollah official Ghaleb Awali, who was killed in a car bomb near his apartment building in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Two other Lebanese allegedly involved in the crime are fugitives.

The Lebanese and the Egyptian nationals were also accused of carrying out “terrorist acts,” collaborating with Israel and attempted assassination.

The Egyptian was the janitor at the building where Awali resided and monitored the movement of the Hezbollah official prior to the bombing in July of 2004.

The Lebanese, who were arrested for their involvement in the killing, have confessed to collaborating with Israel’s Mossad.

Their case was referred to the Military Tribunal.

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah has accused the Jewish state of being behind the assassination of Awali, who was captured by Israeli troops during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

He also assisted Palestinian groups.