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Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali denied on Friday media reports that a delegation from the international tribunal will head to Damascus next week to hand over to Syrian authorities arrest warrants in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s murder case.
Following talks with Premier Najib Miqati, Ali told reporters at the Grand Serail that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon “lost its credibility” over leaked information on the arrest warrants.
Full StoryA day after the edginess that followed the announcement of the details of the indictment in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s murder case, the Lebanese people were on Friday pondering the next move of Lebanese authorities.
On Thursday, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued a long-awaited indictment and arrest warrants for the Feb. 2005 assassination of Hariri, with Hizbullah members reportedly among those named.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat questioned on Friday the timing of the release of the indictment in the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, noting that it took place soon after the formation of the new government.
He said during a press conference at his Clemenceau residence: “The decision to release the indictment was political.”
Full StoryLebanese newspapers on Friday mirrored the deep political rift in the country after a U.N.-backed tribunal issued indictments in the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri.
While dailies loyal to former Premier Saad Hariri hailed Thursday's indictment -- expected to implicate Hizbullah members in the case -- as a triumph of justice, those close to the Shiite group slammed it as another Israeli plot.
Full StoryFrance criticized leaked information in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination case and urged the Lebanese cabinet to fully cooperate with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Thursday that his country was “informed” that the Lebanese authorities received a copy of the indictment.
Full StoryNine ministers voiced their reservation on the wording of the clause on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during the session for approving the government policy statement on Thursday.
The ministers objected to the use of the word “in principle” in article 14 of the statement on the STL.
Full StoryHizbullah considers itself “not concerned with” arrest warrants that were issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon against four Hizbullah members, sources close to the Shiite party said.
While the group refused to comment on the indictment, the sources told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published Friday that the court is “politicized and used by the United States to serve the Jewish entity.”
Full StoryThe United States said that an "important step toward justice" has been taken with Lebanon receiving an indictment and arrest warrants for the murder of ex-premier Rafik Hariri.
A high-ranking U.S. source told An Nahar newspaper on Friday that all eyes are on PM Najib Miqati who has to “preserve Lebanon’s honor during difficult times.”
Full StoryU.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has reiterated his “strong support” for the international tribunal, which has submitted to the Lebanese authorities a sealed indictment and arrest warrants in the case of ex-PM Rafik Hariri’s assassination.
The secretary general calls on “all states to support the independent judicial process, in particular by cooperating with the Special Tribunal in the execution of the indictment and arrest warrants," said a statement issued by his spokesperson on Thursday.
Full StoryFormer Defense Minister Elias Murr held President Michel Suleiman responsible for exposing his security, stressing that he didn’t carry out his tasks towards the probe into the bombing that targeted him.
“I have been with him (the president) since he was the army chief. He didn’t carry out his tasks concerning the investigation into my attempted murder. And his last stances from the government (show that) he exposed us,” Murr told LBC television on Thursday night.
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