UN members back Lebanon terrorism tribunal
The UN Security Council on Wednesday welcomed the opening of a special tribunal for Lebanon that will investigate the murder of former premier Rafiq Hariri.
In a unanimously-backed declaration, Security Council members voiced hopes that the tribunal would "end impunity in Lebanon."
"(Members) welcomed the commencement of the functioning of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on 1 March 2009 in The Hague as an important step … to bring to justice those responsible for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri," the declaration said.
Hariri — a multi-billionaire and five-time prime minister — was killed along with 22 others on February 14, 2005, when a massive car bomb exploded near Beirut”s Corniche promenade as his convoy passed.
The 15-member Security Council "reiterated their strong support for the Special Tribunal," while stressing "the importance of the full cooperation of Member States with the Office of the Prosecutor," the statement read by Libyan Charge d”Affairs Ibrahim Dabbashi said.
It follows a UN preliminary investigation, launched in 2005, into the killings, which implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials.
Lebanon has detained four generals in Lebanon”s largely pro-Syrian security services for the last four years, on suspicion of premeditated murder, attempted premeditated murder and carrying out terrorist acts.
Three civilians also accused of being involved in the attack have been released on bail.
The US hopes to transfer the four generals to its custody for prosecution.
Marking the tribunal”s formal opening earlier this week, UN chief prosecutor Daniel Bellemare labeled it the world”s first anti-terrorist court.
"By the very nature of its mandate, the STL (Special Tribunal for Lebanon) is the first international anti-terrorist tribunal," he told VIPs, diplomats and journalists in the Netherlands.
The tribunal, located in the suburb of Leidschendam, was created by a 2007 UN Security Council resolution and will apply Lebanese law. It has an initial, renewable, three-year mandate.