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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
UN hands Lebanon draft on Hariri murder tribunal
2006-11-11
Lebanon received from the United Nations on Friday a draft document outlining the framework of a tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, Lebanese officials said. The move indicated that major powers on the Security Council had bridged differences that had delayed an agreement on the workings and structure of the court, the officials said. They did not reveal details of the draft but said some Russian objections to an earlier draft had been taken on board. One official source said the tribunal, to be made up of Lebanese and foreign judges, would have no power to try or question heads of states as the killing would not be defined as a “crime against humanity” or a “terrorist attack”.

Hariri was assassinated on Feb. 14, 2005, in a suicide truck bombing that killed 22 other people. The killing, which sparked large anti-Syrian protests that forced Syria to end three decades of military presence in Lebanon, is under investigation by a UN commission led by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz. The UN probe has implicated senior Lebanese and Syrian security officials. Syria has denied any role. The personal representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Geir Pederson, handed copies of the draft to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and other officials in Beirut. He also gave a copy to HaririÂ’s son Saad, parliamentary majority leader.
Posted by:Fred

#3  In other news from Lebanon:

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora has refused to accept the resignations of five pro-Syrian ministers after a week of meetings aimed at giving them more of a say in the government collapsed. The ministers who tendered their resignations are members of the allied Shi'ite movements, Amal and Hezbollah. The talks broke down over Hezbollah's demand that the pro-Syrian parties be given enough cabinet posts to allow them to block legislation. This was rejected by the anti-Syrian majority in the Lebanese parliament. The talks broke down just two days before the cabinet was scheduled to discuss a draft UN document on setting up a tribunal to deal with last year's assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Deutsche-Welle 11/11/2006 23:00
Posted by: mrp   2006-11-11 18:18  

#2  They might just as well come out and say. "As it appears that neither the US nor Israel can be held responsible for this reprehensible act, the UN is powerless to respond. Should any evidence implicating these regimes come to light we will certainly follow up."
Posted by: Baba Tutu   2006-11-11 18:05  

#1  a draft document outlining the framework

So I figure the trial starts in, what, 2020?
Posted by: tu3031   2006-11-11 10:45  

00:00