Verbal Attacks on Tribunal Launched at a Time of Intense Investigation into Hariri”s Murder
The latest verbal attacks on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon "were predictable" as they came at a time when international investigators are intensifying efforts to find the culprits behind ex-Premier Rafik Hariri”s assassination, a judicial source told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
The source said the attacks aimed at "hindering the work of international investigators who began settling down at the tribunal”s office in Beirut."
"The campaign started with the arrival of a delegation from the court to lay the groundwork (for their investigation) despite obstacles facing some aspects of their mission which we are trying to overcome," the source added.
Well-informed sources also told al-Liwaa newspaper that "hysterical campaigns" by some opposition figures against the tribunal and the Lebanese judiciary are the result of the probe carried by international investigators in cooperation with the office of the tribunal”s prosecutor in Beirut.
Al-Liwaa said investigators have recently questioned around 150 people, in a move that it described as "the last checkup" on the list of names of those involved or have information on Hariri”s Feb. 2005 killing.
Asharq al-Awsat”s judicial source made his comments following former head of General Security Department Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed”s criticism of PM-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday.
Sayyed slammed what he called Hariri”s "arrogant" stance over the false witnesses” case.
"How does Hariri allow some of his stupid MPs to defend certain judges and officers involved in (the false testimonies of) Mohammed Zuhair Siddiq, Husam Husam and others?" Sayyed asked in a statement.
He urged Hariri to refer judges Saeed Mirza and Saqr Saqr to judicial inspection "instead of his desperate defense of those involved" in the creation of false witnesses.
The judicial source told Asharq al-Awsat the parties that have launched the accusatory campaigns are harmed by the tribunal”s intensive work to find the culprits in Hariri”s case. However, he said "Jamil Sayyed has no impact on the tribunal … What is happening now is nothing more than the launching of war (on the court)."
"The Syrian regime has entrusted a legal office with following up developments at the tribunal … Would a legal office follow up on a case if the side that commissioned it is not involved in the case?" the source wondered.
Meanwhile, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the International Criminal Police Organization have concluded an interim agreement on Interpol”s assistance to the court with regard to its investigations and other proceedings that pertain to the crimes that fall under its jurisdiction.
The agreement was signed by President Antonio Cassese, on behalf of the STL, and by Ronald K. Noble, the Secretary-General of Interpol, on behalf of his organization, said a statement issued by the court on Thursday.