The Tribunal will Ask Transfer of 4 Generals to The Hague, All Trials to Be Broadcast
The international tribunal”s registrar, Robin Vincent, announced that Lebanese authorities would be asked to transfer to The Hague the four generals held in connection with ex-Premier Rafik Hariri”s murder as soon as the court starts functioning.
Vincent, in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV network Sunday night, said he didn”t think there would be any difficulty in handing over those arrested in Hariri”s Feb. 2005 assassination case to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
He said the four former security generals, who are in custody since 2005, were arrested based on information of early investigations under Detlev Mehlis, the former head of the U.N. commission probing Hariri”s assassination.
The generals are former presidential guard chief Mustafa Hamdan, the former head of the general security department Jamil Sayyed, Ali Hajj, who was internal security forces chief, and the former head of army intelligence Raymond Azar.
Vincent told the TV station that a request would be submitted to the Lebanese authorities for the transfer to The Hague of investigation files and those in Lebanese custody within a period of two months from the day the court starts functioning on March 1.
He said the witnesses in Hariri”s case will be given new identifications and will be transferred to other locations. Vincent unveiled that discussions are underway with U.N. Security Council member states to host the witnesses.
Meanwhile, administrative officials told al-Mustaqbal daily that the tribunal”s website will be improved to carry the latest developments in the trial in three languages – Arabic, French and English.
The sources said TV and radio stations and the website will broadcast the trials delayed by 30 minutes for security and legal purposes.
The court will also provide journalists with photos they need to cover the trials.
The officials told al-Mustaqbal that the Lebanese bureau at the tribunal will be in the service of Lebanese media.