Jumblat: STL Decision in U.S. Hands

Druze leader Walid Jumblat said Washington is behind a decision to be issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon convicting people in the murder of ex-PM Rafik Hari.

"This phase requires a wait-and-see strategy," Jumblat said in remarks published by several Beirut dailies on Wednesday.

"The decision of the International Tribunal, however, is in the hands of the Americans as French President Nicolas Sarkozy was quoted as telling a senior Arab official," Jumblat added.

Jumblat warned against dragging the country into civil strife.

France was said to have informed Saudi Arabia that a solution to the STL indictment lies in Washington's hands.

As Safir daily said Tuesday that Saudi King Abdullah sent Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin to Paris for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

It said Muqrin carried with him a royal message asking Paris to use its influence to find a settlement to the indictment issue.

French authorities, according to As-Safir, informed the envoy that the court decision lies in the hands of the U.S.

It said Saudi envoys have visited the U.S. for the same purpose.