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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| UN 's OK of tribunal requires Lebanon parliament approval |
| 2007-02-08 |
| The paralyzing political crisis in Lebanon may block the creation of a court to try the suspected killers of former premier Rafik el Hariri despite an accord signed with the United Nations. The UN's accord, signed Tuesday, to set up the international tribunal still requires the approval of the country's divided parliament in line with the constitution. The draft also has to be ratified by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, who sides with the opposition in rejecting the legitimacy of Siniora's parliament-backed government. "There are few chances for the agreement to be ratified if the political crisis persists," international law professor Sami Salhab said. "Obviously, only a political solution to the crisis can help, otherwise the procedure will remain blocked," he said. In November, the UN Security Council and the Siniora government approved the creation of the international tribunal that would try suspects in the February 2005 bomb attack in Beirut which killed Hariri and 22 others. But the move sparked the resignation of six pro-Syria ministers and turned into a full-blown crisis that has paralyzed the Siniora government. |
| Posted by:Fred |