STL assigned counsel to the 4 accused Hezbollah members

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued a press release in which it stated that the Head of STL Defense Office assigned permanent counsel to defend the four Hezbollah members accused in the assassination of former lebanese PM Rafik Hariri

Here is the text of the press release : (more…)

March 14 leaders decry Assad’s speech

March 14 leaders were quick to criticize Syrian President Bashar Assad’s Tuesday speech . Lebanon,s Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri labeled Assad’s Tuesday speech “ridiculous” , while Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Assad addressed everything but the country’s crisis. (more…)

Hariri condemns the Damascus blast, questions timing, location

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri commented Friday on the explosion that took place in the Damascus neighborhood of Al-Midan and said he condemns all “terrorist acts.”

“What draws my attention is the setting of the explosion . It took place 24 hours before the Arab commission on Syria is scheduled to meet and was located in Al-Midan, which is a major point of popular movements in Damascus,” (more…)

Is al-Qaeda supporting al-Assad?

Two car bombs rocked the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday; the al-Assad regime immediately rushed to announce that Al Qaeda was responsible for this terrorist operation,

Future Movement , PSP stress cooperation

The leaderships of the Progressive Socialist Party and the Future movement in Iqlim al-Kharroub stressed in a statement after holding talks at the PSP’s offices in Daraya on Sunday their continued cooperation and the need to preserve calm rhetoric.
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STL’s Bellemare decides not to seek a second term

The Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for the Lebanon (STL) , Daniel Bellemare, has informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations that, for health reasons, he does not intend to seek reappointment for a second term as Prosecutor at the end of February 2012, according to STL website.
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Lebanese Trial in Absentia Faces Many Obstacles to Justice

JURIST Guest Columnist Niccolò Pons, Assistant Legal Officer of the Pre-Trial Chambers of the International Criminal Court, says that there are many obstacles for the Lebanese court both in obtaining and carrying out a trial in absentia, but that it can still be an effective tool in furthering international justice and accountability… (more…)

US welcomes Mikati’s funding of Lebanon’s share of STL

Washington on Wednesday welcomed Lebanon’s decision to pay its dues to a UN-backed tribunal probing the murder of ex-premier Rafik Hariri but said the country’s commitment to the court did not stop with the funding. (more…)

US envoy warns Lebanon over failure to fund STL

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly on Monday voiced the United States’ nconcern that Lebanon would suffer serious consequences if it fails to fulfill its commitments to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

She urged Lebanon to “meet all of international obligations” during a meeting with Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas. (more…)

STL president: Lebanon is 11 months late in paying its share

President Michel Suleiman met with Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) President Judge Sir David Baragwanath during his first visit to Lebanon since he was appointed , National News Agency reported on Wednesday (more…)