Lebanon divided on Hariri court
31/05/2007 12:28  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

Hariri court gets the OK Violent clash in Lebanon Lebanon will react 'forcefully' Lebanon: Rice blames extremists 20 000 flee Lebanon camp 'Avoid travelling in Lebanon' Lebanon conflict a 'war' Verdict out on Hariri death UN widens Hariri probe US faults Syria on Hariri probe

Beirut - The UN Security Council has voted to set up an international court to try suspects in the murder of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri in a move at once applauded and condemned in the deeply-divided country.

The legally binding resolution, which was narrowly approved late on Wednesday, sets June 10 as the date for a 2006 agreement between the United Nations and the Lebanese government to establish the court enters into force.

On the streets of Beirut, Hariri supporters set off fireworks and celebratory gunfire, voicing hope the court will finally uncover the truth of the 2005 murder of the popular billionaire prime minister which sent shockwaves through the nation.

"It is a historic moment... the court is not about vendettas, but about justice for all," said Hariri's MP son Saad, leader of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority.

He described the vote as "an opportunity for all Lebanese to unite".

But there are also fears the decision could further upset the fragile stability of Lebanon, in the grip of a deep political crisis and renewed security fears over a deadly standoff between the army and an Islamist militia.

Syria, Lebanon's former power broker which has been widely blamed for the killing, and its allies in Beirut said the vote smacked of foreign meddling.

South Africa abstained

Ten of the Security Council's 15 members voted in favour of Resolution 1757, with veto-wielding members Russia and China as well as South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar - three non-permanent members - abstaining.

Hariri and 22 other people were killed in a massive truck bombing on the Beirut seafront in February 2005, triggering a groundswell of domestic and international protests that forced Syria to end nearly 30 years of military domination.

An initial UN inquiry implicated Damascus and its allies in Lebanon, where four pro-Syrian security chiefs were arrested in late 2005. But Syria has vehemently denied any involvement and vowed not to cooperate with the tribunal.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said a trial would allow for "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" to be revealed, saying the court is "not directed against anyone and especially not sister Syria".

- AFP

What is this? Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
	News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile		News24 on mobile