April 17, 2010 - Now Lebanon - Circles close to president want foreign funding of STL cut, Al-Hayat reports

Al-Hayat newspaper reported on Saturday that circles close to the president are concerned with the repercussions that could result from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) investigation, and therefore, told a delegation from the French Foreign Ministry that the best way to avoid instability in Lebanon, is for those countries currently funding the tribunal to cut their financial support. The paper did not detail further who was behind that message.

According to the paper, the French delegation visited Lebanon at the end of March, when reports surfaced that the STL was interrogating Hezbollah members as part of its investigation. Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah confirmed that the court had summoned 12 party members as witnesses, but not as suspects.

The STL’s new administrative committee is expected to meet in the fall to discuss the tribunal's budget, according to Al-Hayat. The paper reported that Lebanon funds 51 percent of the tribunal’s work.

-NOW Lebanon