'Don't Play with Justice', Mustaqbal Tells Nasrallah

Al-Mustaqbal Movement sources have snapped back at Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah over his latest remarks on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Nasrallah's statement "don't play with fire" in his Sunday speech was “unfortunate because it reminded the Lebanese of the atmosphere of the May 7,” 2008 incidents, LBCI TV quoted the Mustaqbal sources as saying.

“Al-Mustaqbal Movement's arena is the arena of justice and law, not the arena of civil war, and the movement will only tell Sayyed Nasrallah a few words: don't play with justice,” the sources added.

Nasrallah on Sunday warned parties allegedly “betting on the STL” against what he called “playing with fire.”

“Some March 14 circles are saying that the main reason behind delaying the formation of the government is that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will issue its ruling in September and that there will be a new situation in the country to capitalize on,” Nasrallah said.

“The STL does not mean anything to us at all and its rulings are of no value regardless whether they are condemnation or acquittal rulings,” he added.

“To those betting on the tribunal: do not play with fire. Period,” Nasrallah warned.

The STL Trial Chamber has scheduled oral closing arguments in the Rafik Hariri assassination case for the period between Sep. 11 and Sep. 21. Four Hizbullah operatives are being tried in absentia over their alleged role in the killing.

The STL Prosecution has recently submitted a “Final Trial Brief” that explains the links between Hizbullah and the supposed assassination squads and draws attention to meetings and phone calls between senior Hizbullah and Syrian officials prior to the February 2005 attack.