Neither Hezbollah nor STL comment on Wahab’s statement

Former minister Wiam Wahab has created a new commotion in the country after saying that the committee investigating former PM Rafik Hariri’s murder has summoned Hezbollah members for questioning.
However, Wahab’s statement was neither confirmed by Special Tribunal for Lebanon prosecutor’s office nor by Hezbollah. (more…)

STL president: Trust us…Justice is coming

In an interview with al-Arabiya satellite channel, Special Tribunal for Lebanon President Antonio Cassesse expressed hope that progress will be made before the end of the year in the investigation into the murder of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri and related crimes but admitted that the “investigators face difficulties in terrorist crimes.”

Addressing the families of victims of political assassinations, Cassesse said: ‘They have to trust the work of the professional and highly skilled Tribunal. Justice is coming and we will identity the killers and prove our professionalism. ” (more…)

A Syrian in UAE jail fears execution for Hariri murder

A man claiming to be a former Syrian intelligence officer, who was jailed for six months over a forged passport, remains in Al Wathba prison nearly a year after his conviction because he faces execution if deported.

Mohammed Zuhair al Siddiq came to the UAE using a fraudulent Czech passport, which he said was given to him by French intelligence operatives hoping to protect him.

At one point, Mr al Siddiq was considered a key witness in the 2005 assassination of the Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. But after his testimony and background were discredited, Mr al Siddiq was expelled from France. (more…)

Tribunal: New evidence points to the killer

UN report on resolution 1780 ( Special Tribunal for Lebanon, STL): the investigation of Hariri murder has uncovered several leads that will result in naming the suspects and speeding up the trial . New evidence will allow the court to identify the perpetrator and where he came from.
Lebanon’s former PM Rafik hariri was assassinate on February 14, 2005 . (more…)

Obama renews US support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

U.S. President Barack Obama called Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri  on Friday and reiterated his support  for the special  tribunal for Lebanon, according to a White House statement.

“The President said the American people admire and appreciate the Prime Minister’s commitment to carrying on his father’s work. The President and Prime Minister agreed on the importance of supporting the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to bring those responsible for this terrible crime to justice,” the statement said.

Emphasizing on the US’ continued support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, Obama said he looks forward to working with Premier Hariri to advance peace and opportunity in the region.

Obama gave the assurance in a telephone call, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said, adding the president also emphasized U.S. support for Lebanon’s “sovereignty and independence.”

Hariri was killed in a massive bomb blast on the Beirut seafront on February 14, 2005 . His death  that year was widely blamed on Syria although Damascus has denied any involvement.

A commemoration will be held Sunday for Hariri at the martyrs square in downtown Beirut  . As in the past , hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are expected to to be there , to show appreciation for the man who rebuilt the country after the civil war.

Murr tells UN chief: Lebanon remains committed to 1701

Lebanon’s Defense Minister Elias el Murr said after meeting U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon in New York:” The army is always prepared to preserve stability in the south in cooperation with the UNFIL forces and we remain committed to the implementation of UNSCR1701 ”
The UN chief said on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri: “We stand by the people of Lebanon and the martyrs and we remain strongly committed to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and finding the perpetrators “

Syria again holds upper hand in Lebanon-Analysis

Syria regains strength in Lebanon, without troop presence, Syria’s ally Hezbollah and Saudi, Western rapprochement with Syria sealed new reality.

STL president: Hariri’s murder case is ‘highly complex’

The President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ( STL) , Judge Antonio Cassese, and the Vice-President, Judge Ralph Riachy concluded their visit to Lebanon today. In a press release they expressed their profound gratitude to the Lebanese political, judicial and academic authorities for the warm welcome extended to them during their visit and for the continued support for the Tribunal.
Judge Cassese said on Friday there were “no deadlines” in issuing indictments in the case, calling the case “highly complex”.
“All acts of terrorism are much more complicated than war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide,” Judge Cassese told AFP
“We cannot set deadlines,” he added.
Cassese, who arrived in Lebanon on Monday on a week-long visit, said that unlike other crimes, political assassinations were harder to crack given the layers of secrecy involved.
“Terrorist acts involve secret cells. There’s no clear chain of command or hierarchy,” he said. “Most of the time those involved will not confess because they risk being killed by their accomplices.”

President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ( STL) , Judge Antonio Cassese (L) and Lebanese Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar

Tribunal chief in Lebanon to meet with key officials

The president of UN’s STL (Special Tribunal for Lebanon , set up to try the murders of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri ) met on Monday President Michel Suleiman and other officials on his first visit to Lebanon.
Tribunal chief Judge Antonio Cassese briefed Suleiman “on the progress the tribunal has made and the steps planned for the next phase of the investigation,” a statement released by Suleiman’s office said.
Cassese and his deputy, Ralph Riachy, also met Foreign Minister Ali Shami and Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar and were scheduled to meet parliament speaker Nabih Berri during their week-long visit.
Cassese and Riachy will not reportedly meet with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, or Defense Minister Elias Murr “because of the personal link they have with the cases and in order to preserve the tribunal’s impartiality” , according to Cassese’s office .
Former head of the General Security Department Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed called on Cassese to restore public trust in the Lebanese court. Sayyed , who was a suspect in the Hariri assassination was released from jail last April along with 3 other generals for insufficient evidence .

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Ali Shami ( L) with visiting Tribunal chief Judge Antonio Cassese

Lebnaon’s STL investigation chief ends contract in Feb.2010

The Office of Daniel Bellemare, Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon announced that its Chief of Investigation Naguib Kaldas , an Egyptian-Australian will be departing the Special Tribunal at the end of his contract on February 28, 2010 to return to Australia, where he will resume his duties as Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police.
Kaldas who signed one year contract with the intention of to go back to his post in Australia said : : “I am leaving with the same sense of optimism that the Prosecutor has expressed about the progress we’ve made and continue to make in the investigation and I am confident that the team of professionals I am leaving behind will get the job done.”