The Fate of the 4 Generals to be Decided by May
The President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Antonio Cassasse, said: "the fate of the four (detained) generals will be decided in May, either they are released or charged."
In an interview with the Italian daily La Republica on Wednesday, Cassesse said that nothing would affect the tribunal”s work saying: "beginning today we shall begin (working) with the first issue, that is the four Lebanese generals who were former security and intelligence directors."
He added that the tribunal shall practically begin next year saying that for this purpose a new detention and criminal trial law have been adopted.
"Most important is that we have formed a defense bureau that is equally important to the general prosecutor”s office," Cassesse said.
He went on to add that Syria has up to now the right not to deliver potential Syrian suspects.
"We have to first conclude a judicial cooperation protocol with Syria," he said.
Cassesse was quick to point that states such as Jordan, Iran and Egypt need to sign a similar protocol with the tribunal "for we believe they too have witnesses that could provide evidence."