UNITED NATIONS/LEBANON: UN votes to set up a court to prosecute murder of Lebanon's Hariri

Record ID: 166570

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS/LEBANON: UN votes to set up a court to prosecute murder of Lebanon's Hariri
  • Date: 31st May 2007
  • Summary: (AMREP) UNITED NATIONS (FILE) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS EXTERIOR
  • Embargoed: 15th June 2007 13:00
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  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJMCPKVCMUAF7GTK402YMD4NK
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The U.N. Security Council voted on Wednesday (May 30) to set up a special court to prosecute the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
    The vote was a challenge to Syria, which pro-government Lebanese politicians hold responsible for the assassination.
    Ten of the 15 Security Council members supported the Western-sponsored resolution to set up the tribunal. The other five abstained and there were no votes against. The action followed months of deadlock among deeply divided Lebanese politicians.
    A Syrian government statement carried by the official news agency said the decision violated Lebanese sovereignty and could plunge Lebanon into further instability.
    The same statement said Syria stuck by its longstanding concerns about the court compromising Syria's own jurisdiction over any Syrians who could be indicted for the 2005 assassination.
    Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, Emyr Jones Parry, disputes arguments that the Security Council was interfering in Lebanese affairs.
    "This is not a capricious intervention interference into the domestic political affairs of a sovereign state. It is a considered response by the council," he said.
    The countries that abstained -- Russia, China, Qatar, Indonesia and South Africa -- argued that the council was exceeding its authority.
    "The plan that has been chosen by its authors, it's questionable from the perception of international law," said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
    Syrian Ambassador to the U.N. Bashar Ja'afari criticised the vote and said it did not represent the majority.
    "Five countries have refrained from voting. But these 5 countries represent a major weight in the world. Qatar represents the Arab group, Indonesia represents the Islamic group, South Africa represents the Non-Alligned Movement, and China and Russia are permanent members of the Security Council. And the abstention of these 5 blocs represents a far bigger number than those countries that have voted," Ja'afari told reporters after the session.
    In Beirut, the decision was hailed by Hariri's son, Saad al-Hariri, who is also the leader of the Lebanese parliament's ruling majority.
    "This is the defining moment between two eras: the era of murder and crime without reprimand and the era of punishment against anyone who wants to turn Lebanon into a field for crime," he said in a televised address shortly after the Security Council passed the resolution.
    Lebanon has been rocked by tens of explosions, assassinations and assassination attempts since Hariri's assassination.
    "This is the moment we reach the gates of justice. Eight hundred and thirty-six days days have passed since the crime, and that has been a long time," he said, choking with tears.
    Hariri said the move, opposed by Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition leaders would end the country's criminal series.
    Supporters in mainly Sunni Muslim areas of Beirut held candles and flags as they took to the streets to celebrate the resolution.
    Some supporters fired assault rifles into the air.
    Hundreds of Lebanese gathered around the grave of Hariri shortly after the resolution was passed.
    Badriah Yousef said she felt relatively safer now that the resolution has passed.
    "I feel, this makes me feel a little bit safe. God willing this will put an end to those criminals, those who do not fear God. I came all the way from Akkar (in the north) to stand by Sheikh Saad to lend support to him, " said Yousef.
    Another Lebanese said she hoped the resolution would bring the killers to justice.
    "God kill those who killed Hariri. I want to say that I will sacrifice my blood for Sheikh Saad (Hariri) and hope we get justice, let's not name names now, from those who killed Hariri," said Farah Rifai.
    Four blasts have rocked Beirut and a nearby Aley resort last week killing one woman and wounding scores. The Lebanese army has also been fighting al-Qaeda-styled militants in the north in the worst fighting since the 1975-1990 civil war.
    Hariri's coalition says Syria was behind the killing of Hariri and 22 other people in a suicide truck bombing in Beirut in February 2005. Damascus denies any links to the killing.
    International and domestic outcry forced Syria to end 29 years of military presence in Lebanon after the Hariri assassination.
    Lebanese authorities are holding eight people over the Hariri killing. They are four pro-Syrian generals who headed Lebanese security departments at the time and four members of a small Syrian-backed Sunni Muslim group accused of having played a role in monitoring Hariri's movements.
    Early reports from a U.N. inquiry into Hariri's death implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials, but the continuing investigation has not yet recommended who should be indicted in the affair.
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