ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Syrian government strongly denies allegations from federal prosecutors that a Virginia man was spying on American protestors who oppose President Bashar Assad’s regime.
The Syrian embassy issued a statement Wednesday denying that Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid (SWAYD) is an agent for Syria or that he met personally with Assad.
It called the accusations “absolutely baseless and unacceptable.”
A federal magistrate ordered Soueid held pending a detention hearing Friday after prosecutor Dennis Fitzpatrick said Soueid represents “a serious risk of flight.”
Soueid wore a black fleece pullover and blue jeans. He said he had not yet had a chance to contact his attorney, but did not say who his attorney is. Court records do not list a defense attorney.
