BEIRUT: Fourteen suspects denied having any contact with terrorist groups, during their questioning by the permanent Military Tribunal on Thursday, and claimed they were beaten by Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) during earlier interrogations. The suspects denied their previous statements and said they were forced to confess under torture by the ISF. All denied having contact with Al-Qaeda chief in Lebanon, Nabil Rohayyem. Saudi suspect Mohammad Saleh Suwayd denied having been in contact with Rohayyem or having received any money or messages from the terrorist group. The Saudi government had earlier questioned Suwayd but did not accuse him. The suspects were part of a group of 54 who were questioned for suspected membership in the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and Fatah al-Islam, and for their alleged involvement in crimes including: murder; theft; planning terrorist acts using explosives; smuggling terrorists; arming them and sheltering them in an apartment in Tripoli; and murdering two Lebanese soldiers and two Lebanese citizens. – The Daily Star