July 25, 2010 - Now Lebanon - Sayegh: Lebanon will be in trouble if Hezbollah is indicted for Hariri’s murder

In an interview with New TV on Sunday, Minister of Social Affairs Selim Sayegh said that Lebanon and the entire world would be in an impasse if Hezbollah or any of its members are indicted by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) for the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He also voiced hope that the tribunal would not find Lebanese nationals to be responsible for Rafik Hariri’s murder.

Sayegh’s remarks come after Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah claimed on Thursday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri informed him in May that the STL will indict Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah’s indictment will lead to divisions in Lebanon, undermine the stability of the country and threaten a reprise of the 2008 May Events, the minister said.

Sayegh also said that the Kataeb Party—which the minister is a member of—is interested in the tribunal because two party members—former Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel and former MP Antoine Ghanem—were killed in the wave of assassinations that followed Rafik Hariri’s death.

The STL can broaden its mandate to include other political assassinations if they are found to be related to Rafik Hariri’s murder.