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INTERPOL Asks STL to Authorize Circulation of Suspects Names

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) said Friday it has asked the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon for the names of those wanted for being involved in the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri.

The STL on Thursday submitted to the Lebanese authorities a sealed indictment and arrest warrants in the case of the 2005 assassination of Hariri and his companions.

“Until now, INTERPOL has received no request from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to issue INTERPOL Red Notices or to enter into INTERPOL’s databases any information about the individuals wanted for arrest for the assassination” of Hariri, INTERPOL said in a press release.

"INTERPOL can offer no explanation for why the Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon would not authorize the disclosure to INTERPOL's 188 member countries of the names, dates of birth and photographs of those wanted for arrest by the Special Tribunal of Lebanon for the assassination of Rafik Hariri,” it added.

“Police cannot arrest, prevent dangerous persons from entering their countries' borders, or prevent their flight from justice of other countries based on information in the media; police require authorization from judicial or other governmental authorities,” INTERPOL noted.

It reiterated that INTERPOL's Secretary General Ronald Noble had stated on many occasions that "the failure to include the names and identifiers of those wanted for arrest in INTERPOL databases increases their ability to cross international borders undetected and to avoid apprehension."

INTERPOL has been cooperating closely with the STL, since its formation, to assist in identifying and bringing to justice those responsible for the 2005 assassination of Hariri, according to the press release.

As part of that cooperation, the STL has the authority to seek international wanted persons notices (Red Notices) via INTERPOL to apprehend and to prevent the unlawful flight of those wanted for arrest by the STL.

The Special Tribunal of Lebanon also has the authority to request INTERPOL to keep the names of those wanted for arrest confidential, under seal, and made available only to police in INTERPOL’s 188 member countries.

Source: Agence France Presse


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