A Lebanese military court has charged a Christian politician and former army general with spying for Israel.
Fayez Karam of the Free Patriotic Movement is the first political figure to be charged in a widening probe of alleged Israeli espionage activity in Lebanon.
He is accused of meeting with enemy intelligence agents abroad, and giving them information by phone. Prosecutors say he gave the Israelis information about his own party and about Hezbollah.
Lebanon has detained as many as 70 people in recent months for alleged spying for Israel. More than 20 have been charged and two have been sentenced to death.
A number of those in custody were military and telecom employees. Lebanese officials say they plan to raise the issue at the U.N. Security Council.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
